Assistant Secretary Cantor Announces $11 Million in Grants for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands

TUMON, GUAM – U.S. Department of the Interior’s Assistant Secretary – Insular and International Affairs Carmen G. Cantor this week attended the Micronesian Islands Forum (MIF) in Guam where the governors of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), the presidents of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the vice president of the Republic of Palau, along with other Micronesian island leaders, assembled to discuss regional issues related to workforce development, invasive species management, renewable energy, recycling, transportation, tourism, education, healthcare, progress on the Micronesia Challenge (an intergovernmental conservation initiative), and gender equality. While in the territory, Assistant Secretary Cantor announced $7,082,993 in Capital Improvement Project (CIP) funding and $2,590,500 in Technical Assistance Program (TAP) funding for Guam and $1,587,001 in TAP funding for the CNMI.

“This forum is an important opportunity to engage with Micronesian leaders on the most current and pressing topics of concern to the region,” said Assistant Secretary Cantor. “At the invitation of MIF-host Governor Lourdes Leon Guerrero, I was pleased to meet with other island leaders and federal and multilateral partners in person where I also announced grant awards that will help address needs related to capital improvements, data development, public safety, training, and local capacity building.”

While in Guam, Assistant Secretary Cantor met with Guam Governor Leon Guerrero and announced approximately $9.5 million in combined CIP and TAP funds for the territory. She also met with CNMI Governor Arnold Palacios to announce an initial award amount of approximately $1.5 million in TAP grant awards for the CNMI from the Office of Insular Affairs.

Government of Guam projects that have been awarded CIP funding and total $7,082,993 are as follows:

• $3,500,000 for the acquisition of a warehouse facility and collateral equipment necessary for its operations;
• $2,500,000 in supplemental funding for the construction of the Department of Youth Affairs Administrative Building; and
• $1,082,993 for the renovation of facilities at the Chamorro Village.

Guam projects that have been awarded TAP funding and total $2,590,500 are as follows:

• $750,000 to the Bureau of Statistics and Plans for the Customs and Import Operations Modernization Project;
• $500,000 to the Office of Technology for the Zero Trust and Data Protection Project;
• $500,000 to the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials for the Guam Interagency Business Process Improvement Program to Strengthen Administrative Capacity;
• $250,000 to Mañe’lu for the Micronesian Resource Center One-Stop Shop;
• $240,500 to the Guam Police Department for a Crime Scene Response Van to Enhance Law Enforcement Capabilities for Safer Communities;
• $185,000 to the Guam Fire Department for the Firefighter Personal Protective Equipment Project;
• $72,000 to the Department of Education for Internal Audit Office Training;
• $60,000 to Guam Community College for the 3rd Regional Forensic Science Symposium; and
• $33,000 to Guam Memorial Hospital for the Trauma Nursing Core Courses and the Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course Program.

CNMI projects that have been awarded TAP funding and total $1,587,001 are as follows:

• $208,720 to the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation for C-arm Fluoroscopy Medical Imaging Equipment;
• $207,217 to the Office of Grants Management for Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreational Planning;
• $207,027 to the Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority for the Pilot Project: Demand Responsive Shared Ride Program for Rota and Tinian;
• $150,000 to the Bureau of Reclamation for Hydraulic Model Support for Saipan;
• $149,242 to the Saipan Municipal Government for the 80th Anniversary Commemoration of WWII Battles on Saipan and Tinian;
• $140,000 to the Department of Finance for Revenue Management Information System Software and Equipment Support;
• $136,105 to the Office of Grants Management for the Tinian and Rota Street Address and Home Numbering Project;
• $111,595 to the Northern Islands Municipal Government for the Northern Islands Digital Connectivity Project;
• $97,725 to the Department of Public Lands for the Agricultural Homestead Program: Land Surveying Initiative in the Northern Islands;
• $88,000 to the Office of Grants Management for the Second Year of the Federal Grants Enhancement Program;
• $77,063 to the Commonwealth Ports Authority for the Rota Telescopic Conveyor Belt Acquisition Project; and
• $14,307 to the Department of Labor for Protecting Due Process by Maintaining Trained Hearing Officials.

Assistant Secretary Cantor will next travel to Hawai’i to attend the opening ceremonies for the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture, the world’s largest celebration of Indigenous Pacific Islanders.

The Assistant Secretary - Insular and International Affairs 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. The OIA also administers a discretionary Technical Assistance Program for all the Insular Areas. Find information about OIA and its work on www.doi.gov/oia, Facebook, X, and YouTube.

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