Interior Provides $366,900 to Support the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Emergency Preventive Measures Against COVID-19

WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary, Insular and International Affairs, Douglas W. Domenech today announced $366,900 in FY 2020 Technical Assistance Program funding to the Government of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). Funds will be used to purchase personal protective equipment and hygienic supplies for government workers in the CNMI during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

“I am pleased to provide this support to CNMI Governor Torres as the CNMI works to implement preventive measures during this unprecedented pandemic,” said Assistant Secretary Domenech. “One advantage of funding provided through the Office of Insular Affairs is that we can move it quickly during times of emergency and need. We are also coordinating with our federal partners to ensure that the funding we provide is complementary and not duplicative.”

Today’s grant was made available through the Office of Insular Affairs Technical Assistance Program. More information on other federal funding support to combat COVID-19 in the insular areas is available at https://www.doi.gov/oia/press/interior-applauds-centers-disease-controls-support-us-territories-and-freely-associated.

For more information about the work of the Office of Insular Affairs, visit www.doi.gov/oia or follow on Twitter @ASIIADomenech.

The Assistant Secretary, Insular and International Affairs, and the Office of Insular Affairs 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.

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