Guam – The Department of Public Health and Social Services and other struggling agencies will receive a much needed funding boost from the U.S. Department of Interior.
Doug Domenech, assistant secretary of the Office of Insular and International Affairs announced the availability of around $6.3 million in interior funds for Guam during a recent meeting with Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero. According to a release, the funding has been awarded under the fiscal year 2019 Capital Improvement Projects for Guam.
Leon Guerrero said about the meeting, “I shared with Domenech many outstanding concerns we have on our island, like Section 30 monies, the Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act, Compact Impact payments, and necessary improvements to our government agencies to better serve our people.”
The funding will be distributed as follows:
- $3.07 million for the DPHSS-Division of Environmental Health’s new facility for processing, training, and office space;
- $1.92 million for the Department of Youth Affairs’ administrative offices, maintenance and supply depots, and emergency generator replacement, and;
- $330,000 for DYA to purchase a cottage home in Mangilao to comply with U.S. Department of Justice-Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention requirements.
In addition, DOI awarded $1 million for the Insular Assessment of Buildings and Classrooms or ABC initiative in collaboration with the Army Corps of Engineers to be used for the deferred maintenance of Guam’s public schools.