Interior’s Economic Impact on Insular Areas Estimated at $1 billion

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Interior (Interior) has released its fiscal year (FY) 2019 economic report highlighting that Interior activities in the insular areas resulted in $1 billion in economic output and supported 25,334 jobs during FY 2019. The report included activities covering recreation, grants and payments, and payroll to the insular areas administered primarily by the Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) and, to a lesser extent, other Interior bureaus. This is the first year that Interior contributions to insular areas have been separately identified from U.S. national and state contributions.

“Under the leadership of the Secretary and the President, the overall impact of funding that was provided through the Office of Insular Affairs to the U.S. territories and the freely associated states was significant,” said Assistant Secretary, Insular and International Affairs, Douglas W. Domenech. “The Trump Administration has been very supportive of the insular areas, and it is extremely helpful to see the specific data and reporting in order to better realize the impact of the funding and support from Congress through OIA on the lives of individuals in the islands.”

Grant funding from the Office of Insular Affairs, the primary activity of the office, had a large impact on insular area employment supporting over 12,600 jobs.

Interior’s full FY 2019 Economic Report as prepared by the Office of Policy, Management, and Budget is available at: https://doi.sciencebase.gov/doidv/. Prior year economic reports may be found at https://www.doi.gov/oia/reports/OIAeconomicreports.

The Assistant Secretary, Insular and International Affairs, @ASIIADomenech, and the Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) carry out the Secretary of the Interior’s responsibilities for the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Additionally, OIA administers and oversees federal assistance under the Compacts of Free Association to the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. Follow and “like” OIA on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/InsularAffairs.

###