Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs Announces $2,959,283 in Grants to American Samoa for Fiscal Year 2022

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs has announced $2,959,283 in fiscal year 2022 (FY2022) Technical Assistance Program and Maintenance Assistance Program grant funding to the Government of American Samoa and other non-governmental or subsidiary organizations. The funding will be used to help the government update various administrative regulations and pay grade classifications, modernize environmental regulations, bolster the soil research program, procure emergency generators for telecommunications, and purchase needed equipment.

“With this federal investment, American Samoa will be able to make outdated regulations more efficient and effective, acquire needed equipment, and strengthen overall government services,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Keone Nakoa.

Technical Assistance Program (TAP) grants totaling $2,098,558 for fiscal year 2022 for American Samoa were awarded as listed below. The TAP grant recipients include the community college and a non-government organization*.

• $423,000 – Department of Agriculture to purchase soil and residual testing equipment to identify soil nutrient content, composition, and other characteristics that impact food safety and productivity of farmers.
• $375,000 – *American Samoa Community College to update and increase the number of computers in the Computer Science Department, a program that has seen continuing increases in student interest and enrollment. Funds will also fund a generator and address weaknesses identified in a recent audit, strengthening disaster recovery for the college which also serves as the secondary Emergency Operations Center for the territory.
• $270,000 – Office of the Secretary of American Samoa to update the administrative rules of the territorial government that have not been updated in 32 years.
• $250,656 - Territorial Audit Office to fund a legal advisor, a compliance officer and an IT manager, as well as provide professional development for staff
• $250,000 – American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency to update environmental regulations in the territory to include water quality standards, air emissions rules, pesticide regulations, storage tank regulations, hazardous waste materials, and wastewater management.
• $219,000 - Department of Port Administration to purchase an advance public address and voice alarm system for both the airport and the shipping port.
• $150,000 – *Boys and Girls Clubs of American Samoa to engage with youth on marine conservation, ecosystem management, and community-based conservation efforts through experiential education, technical assistance workshops and mentorship opportunities in a program titled “Making Waves – Empowering the Next Generation of Ocean and Coastal Conservation Champions.” 
• $129,152 – Department of Human Resources to review and update government job position classifications, pay grades, and pay plan to bring the territorial government into compliance with the American Samoa Administrative Code and the minimum wage law, among other related needs.
• $31,750 – Telecommunications Authority for small emergency standby generators for 32 remote LTE sites that support wireless and broadband communication across the territory. Ten of these sites are part of the first-responder network and currently operate on limited battery backup power.

Maintenance Assistance Program grants totaling $860,725 for fiscal year 2022 were awarded as follows: 

• $200,000 – Department of Public Works for a heavy equipment storage structure.
• $199,000 – Department of Port Administration for vessel fleet maintenance & staff maintenance training to protect the territory’s tugboat, landing craft, and passenger ferry fleet that will consist of ten vessels by the end of 2022.
• $190,000 - Shipyard Authority for repair and reinforcement of the machine and welding shops to include securing the buildings and protecting electrical lines from rain and seawater moisture.
• $133,925 – Telecommunications Authority to procure specialized hybrid-electric utility terrain vehicles to service and maintain communication systems in remote areas of the Manu’a Islands.
• $74,800 – Veteran's Affairs Office to revitalize and showcase World War II bunker and pillbox guard post that are currently located near the American Samoa Military Veterans monuments in the Industrial Park of American Samoa, adjacent to the Veterans Affairs Office in Tafuna. The structures will be incorporated into a living museum project to highlight the contributions of American Samoa and its strategic importance during World War II.
• $63,000 – Telecommunications Authority to provide in-house apprenticeship programs that facilitate transition from existing networks to the 5G platform for their technicians and line workers.

More information about the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs can be found at www.doi.gov/oia. For specific information about grants provided through the Office of Insular Affairs, visit www.grants.gov and search Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance # 15.875.

The Assistant Secretary of Insular and International Affairs and the Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) carry out the Secretary of the Interior’s responsibilities for the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Additionally, OIA administers and oversees federal assistance under the Compacts of Free Association to the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. OIA also administers a discretionary Technical Assistance Program for all the insular areas. Find information about OIA and its work on www.doi.gov/oia, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

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