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BLOCK GRANT APPLICANTS EXPLAIN THEIR NEEDS

April 10, 2001 – A cross section of St. John residents gathered Monday evening at the Legislative Conference Room in Cruz Bay for the first in a series of public hearings in the territory to discuss the allocation of $2 million in federal Community Development Block Grant funds.
Five proposals were received from St. John totaling $455,000 in requested project funds, according to Yvette Christopher of the Planning and Natural Resources Department. The department has responsibility for disbursing available federal CDBG funds to civic, community and government entities for community improvement projects.
Joanne Saunders, an arts specialist with the V.I. Resource Center for the Disabled, spoke in support of a $30,000 request to fund after-school computer training for disabled St. John youths. She said the funding would be used to pay salaries.
The John Folly Learning Institute requested $80,000 to complete reconstruction of its East End facility, which serves as an after-school, summer and ecological learning center for young people.
Marigold St. Pris, representing The Safety Zone, requested CDBG funds to complete construction of a building to be used as a shelter for abused persons. St. Thomas and St. Croix already have such facilities, St. Pris testified. Tracy Roberts, architect for the proposed shelter, said the funds requested are for the second phase of the project, with the first phase supported by a previous Block Grant allotment.
Carabana Ensemble Theater Company requested $25,000 in operational funds to support an after-school program, a summer day camp and theater workshops.
Delores Clendenin of the Education Department's Special Education Services outlined a request for $50,000 to make Julius E. Sprauve School more handicap-accessible by installing lifts, modifying existing ramps, installing restroom stalls and re-striping the parking area.
Following the project presentations, Christopher summarized the Block Grant funding cycle: submission of project proposals, public hearings, the governor's submission of projects to the Legislature for approval and, finally, allocation of project funds.
Since 1975, the Virgin Islands has received more than $30 million in Block Grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Other CDBG public hearings were scheduled for Tuesday on St. Croix for April 17 and 18 on St. Thomas.

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