Assistant Secretary Doug Domenech of the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Insular and International Affairs has announced $827,812 in fiscal year 2018 grant funding to the U.S. Virgin Islands. The funds will serve to provide emergency power back-up for critical facilities, strengthen water and wastewater management, and help protect and preserve historical artifacts.
“Secretary Zinke and I are committed to helping the U.S. Virgin Islands wherever possible,” said Assistant Secretary Domenech. “This year’s funding improves resiliency by providing emergency power back-up for the East End Medical Center and the Gustave A. Quetel Fish House, two facilities adversely affected by the 2017 hurricanes due to extended power outages. The rest of the funding provides important capacity building and improves local management efforts.”
Funds awarded to the U.S. Virgin Islands for fiscal year 2018:
• Gustav A. Quetel Fish House – $60,322 to purchase and install a 30kw generator as an alternative source of energy at this multi-purpose facility. Fisherfolk, both commercial and recreational, as well as produce farmers use the facility to provide fish and vegetable products on St. Thomas. This facility, critical to the local economy and for general sustenance of the populace, was shut down for 45 days following hurricanes Irma and Maria due to the lack of an alternative source of power.
• East End Medical Center Corporation — $200,000 to purchase an electrical power generator to provide uninterrupted electrical services at the facility and uninterruptible power supplies to protect from electrical surges.
• Water and Power Authority — $250,000 for the St. Croix Water System Master Plan to evaluate the water system infrastructure and $117,490 for technical training in the water department.
• Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums — $200,000 for restoration, conservation, rehousing and protection of historic objects, natural history specimens and other artifacts affected by hurricanes Irma and Maria.
Funds are made available through the Office of Insular Affairs’ Technical Assistance and Maintenance Assistance Programs. Applications are submitted from October through May 1 each year. Funds are awarded once OIA receives appropriations from the U.S. Congress until the funds are exhausted.
