Date: October 1, 1998

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. ---- FALEOMAVAEGA ANNOUNCES $1,310,000 HUD GRANT FOR AMERICAN SAMOA

Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that he has received notification from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that the American Samoa Government has been awarded $1,310,000 for three programs. The Congressman notified Governor Tauese of the award by letter today.

"American Samoa's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program has received $994,000," said Faleomavaega. "This is $11,000 more than ASG received for FY97." The Congressman went on to say, "HUD also awarded $270,000 to ASG under the Home Investment Partnership (HOME) Act, an increase of $18,000 over the amount awarded in FY97." "Finally," said Faleomavaega, "HUD has awarded American Samoa an Emergency Shelter Grant in the amount of $46,000 - - an increase of $14,000 over last year's award. This brings the total amount awarded to $1,310,000."

The CDBG grant is administered by ASG's Department of Commerce. The Congressman said that this year's $1,310,000 award will support a variety of critical housing, public facility and community development activities. "A portion of this year's funding will go towards the library at the American Samoa Community College," said Faleomavaega. In the past, American Samoa's funding has supported projects such as:

the Utulei library;

solid waste collection stations;

health dispensaries in Ofu and Mapusaga and

the Jean P. Haydon Museum.

"The HOME Program will provide homeowner rehabilitation loans for low- and moderate- income families," Faleomavaega said. The funds for this program are distributed through the Development Bank of American Samoa.

The ESG Program is administered by ASG's Department of Human and Social Services. The funds support the operation of the Manaia Shelter, which provides assistance to victims of domestic violence, battered spouses and runaway youth.

On receiving notification of the award, Faleomavaega commented, "There were efforts to cut funding for Community Development Block Grants in this year's appropriations cycle, and I am very happy that we were successful in keeping the program alive. Funding under this award strengthens the development of our community and provides assistance for a variety of small to medium size projects which we are not able to fund in other ways," explained the Congressman. Funding for the CDBG grant awards has been a controversial topic in the last three appropriation cycles.

The Congressman concluded by congratulating Governor Tauese and the former Director of Commerce, John Faumuina, Jr., and his staff, "The Governor, the former Director of Commerce and his staff should be commended for doing all the hard work that goes into submitting successful applications for funding under these programs," said Faleomavaega.