Aug. 15, 2002 – In the first of three hearings on the allocation of the territory's 2002 Community Development Block Grant, lawmakers heard on Wednesday night from representatives of St. Croix agencies recommended by the governor for funding and of other entities that didn't make the cut.
The federal Housing and Urban Development Department has awarded the Virgin Islands $1.95 million in CDBG funds for 2002. Larry Joshua, director of the V.I. block grant program, which falls within the Planning and Natural Resources Department, told the Senate Committee of the Whole that Gov. Charles W. Turnbull is recommending funding for 28 purposes.
They break down to 15 projects on St. Thomas totaling $740,000 and two on St. John totaling $40,000 for a total of $780,000 for that district; and 10 projects also totaling $780,000 for St. Croix. In addition, Joshua said, $390,000 is to go for administering the grant program.
Recommended for St. Croix are:
– $15,000 for the St. Croix Disabled Training Program
– $15,000 for the New Testament afterschool program and steel orchestra
– $35,000 for Southgate Facilities expansion
– $47,500 for Camp Arawak Skills Training Program Facility
– $49,399 for Evelyn Williams School playground improvement
– $50,000 for the Housing Parks and Recreation Department afterschool program and its Grove Place steel orchestra.
– $50,000 for Ludvig Harrigan Housing Project disabled ramp construction
– $94,000 for Arawak training facility acquisition
– $200,000 for St. Croix Community Foundation Business Incubator rehabilitation
– $224,101 for Louis E. Brown housing revitalization.
The committee heard from representatives of eight other St. Croix groups also seeking funding:
– Joan Sealey Christian, seeking $105,000 for the Addellum Shelter for Males and Veterans
– Celeste Foy, $277,000 for the St. Croix Women's Coalition for traditional housing and shelter rehabilitation
– Lt. Glenn Awoung, $286,000 for expansion of the Violet Damidaux Police Pavilion
– Marla Matthew, $475,000 for the Ricardo Richards Multi-purpose Center
– Roy Canton, $500,000 for Estate Great Pond rehabilitation
– Harriett Williams, seeking funding for Helping Children Work
– Evworth Charles, asking funds for St. Croix Martial Arts
– Denise Lewis, for the Viking Youth Development Club.
According to a release, Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd expressed concern about subgrantees from years past that have yet to expended the funding they received.
Present for the hearing in addition to Liburd were Sens. Donald "Ducks" Cole, Carlton Dowe, Emmett Hansen II and Vargrave Richards.
CDBG grant hearings were scheduled for Thursday night on St. Thomas and Friday night on St. John, starting at 6 p.m. in both instances.
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