$1.9 Million in Infrastructure Funding Released to American Samoa

WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 25, 2015) – Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas

Esther Kia’aina today announced the release of $1.9 million in CIP grant funding to American Samoa 

through the Office of Insular Affairs’ (OIA) Capital Improvement Project (CIP) Program. The funds 

support Governor Lolo Moliga’s priorities and much needed improvements to critical infrastructure 

in the territory.

 

“Much of this CIP funding helps bring to completion health, education and transportation 

infrastructure projects that OIA has funded previously,” said Assistant Secretary Kia’aina. “We are 

extremely pleased to support the Governor and the people of American Samoa in this way.”

 

Grants awarded this week were as follows:

 

•  $700,000 for a new classroom building at Aua Elementary School to alleviate overcrowding. The 

3,840 square foot building will have four classrooms and will be connected to a brand new two-story 

classroom building that was completed with FY 2011

CIP grant funding. In total, the two new buildings will provide a new cafeteria and nine new 

classrooms for the elementary school.

 

•   $711,533 to the Department of Port Administration for construction of a new service wharf. The 

project which costs a total of $8.7 million, and is part of the territory’s Five- Year and 

Long-Term Facilities Plans will provide a new wharf for servicing ships and facilitating port 

operations in Pago Pago Harbor. The existing service wharf which was built in the 1950’s on 

sediment instead of a solid basalt foundation, has deteriorated to a state that is unsafe for port 

operations and is slowly sinking.  Initial plans to renovate the wharf were scrapped  following 

geotechnical investigations which recommended new

construction as the safest option.  The Port Administration recently selected a contractor

and construction is expected to begin before the end of the year.

 

•  $200,000 to complete funding for a fully equipped and operational Primary Care Center in 

Faga’alu.  This grant supplements a $500,000 CIP grant awarded earlier this year bringing the total 

project cost to $700,000. An existing building that houses Physical Exams and the Well Baby Clinic 

will be renovated and upgraded to include six exam rooms, three medical offices, a staff conference 

room, two full locker rooms for clinical staff, and two lavatories.  The center will also be 

expanded to add a patient waiting area, receptionist desk, nursing area, and space for records 

management.

 

•   $278,434 to purchase furniture and equipment for the Pago Pago Youth Center. The newly 

constructed community center will include an indoor basketball/volleyball court, kitchen, computer 

lab, sewing room, weight room, stage area, restrooms, and office areas. The new furniture, 

equipment, and supplies will help the American Samoa Department of Youth and Women’s Affairs 

furnish the new building and facilitate recreational programs such as the Youth Academy, sewing, 

cooking, flower arrangements and other programs for youth and the elderly.

 

 

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