Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has awarded a grant of $169,000 to American Samoa for purposes of improving Manu’a Air Services.  On August 4, 2009, Faleomavaega issued a release announcing that this grant opportunity was available and today USDOT informed Faleomavaega that American Samoa’s grant has been awarded.

“I am pleased that American Samoa’s grant application was accepted,” Faleomavaega said, “especially when only 19 grant applications received funding.  Funding for the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) is set aside by Congress and then DOT distributes its funding directly according to formula and also by way of competitive grant opportunities.”

“The grant awarded to American Samoa was a competitive grant opportunity which the USDOT announced on July 11, 2009 and which I also announced in our local papers on August 4, 2009 as a follow-up because I felt very strongly that this was a good opportunity for purposes of improving airport service in the Territory.”

“The grant awarded to American Samoa was awarded under the Small Community Air Service Development Program.  As stated in the USDOT’s release today, ‘Since it began in 2002, the Small Community Air Service Development Program has helped small communities address the challenges of local air service, such as high air fares and insufficient levels of service.  The grants will be used by communities around the country for programs such as financial incentives to air carriers, studies to determine air service needs, and marketing programs that encourage increased use of local airports.’     

“American Samoa’s grant will secure ground-support equipment critical for improving access to Manu’a and I agree with Secretary LaHood who noted that these kinds of grants ‘help support and sustain efforts by small communities to preserve and expand their links to the national air transportation system, connecting residents to the U.S. economy.’  This is the kind of help Manu’a needs and I thank Secretary LaHood for his leadership.  I also commend ASG and all those involved in making this grant a reality.”

            Complete community proposals and the department’s final order are available on the Internet at www.regulations.gov, docket number DOT-OST-2009-0149.  A list of recipient communities and funding totals is available on www.dot.gov/affairs/chart09.htm.