A team from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development is arriving in the territory next month for the first round of technical assistance training to assist ASG in developing an action plan for use of funding that the territory was awarded for long term recovery assistance from Tropical Storm Gita.
American Samoa was awarded $23 million.
Asked for an update on this grant, Director of Commerce Keniseli Lafaele said the HUD Community Block Grant allocation requires an Action Plan (AP) approved by HUD.
ASG is in the process of writing its Action plan which details the territory’s unmet needs assessment, policies and procedures for the program, and lists projects ASG proposes to fund with its $23 million allocation.
A team from HUD will arrive in March for the first round of technical assistance training to assist with the Action Plan. The priority unmet needs which have been identified are housing, economic revitalization, infrastructure and mitigation.
Lafaele said Governor Lolo Moliga will review and approve the ASG Acton Plan after which it will be submitted to HUD for approval.
