$1 Million in Infrastructure Funding Will Make Improvements to Libraries in the U.S. Virgin Islands

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas Esther Kia’aina released nearly $1 million in grant funding under the Office of Insular Affairs’ (OIA) Capital Improvement Project (CIP) Program to make infrastructure improvements at three library facilities in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI).

“Educational resources provided through libraries are important to any community, especially island communities,” said Assistant Secretary Kia’aina, “so it is very gratifying to support infrastructure improvements to these three libraries in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Florence Williams Library, located in the heart of the business and commercial district of Christiansted, St. Croix, is receiving $600,000 for structural renovations and upgrades to protect its expansive collection of over 77,000 volumes, including materials for adults, young adults, and children.

The Athalie McFarlane Petersen Library, located in Frederiksted, St. Croix, is receiving $250,000 for renovations and technological upgrades that will provide a safe, secure, and comfortable location for citizens to use public library resources for life-long learning and discovery.

The Elaine Ione Sprauve Public Library, located on St. John, is receiving $65,000 for similar structural renovations and infrastructure upgrades that will provide a comfortable learning environment at the only public library on the island of St. John.

The Department of the Interior is responsible for coordinating federal policy with respect to the territories of American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and administering and overseeing U.S. federal assistance provided to the Freely Associated States of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau under the Compacts of Free Association. The Office of Insular Affairs mission is to foster economic opportunities, promote government efficiency, and improve the quality of life for the people of the insular areas.

###