Economic Development

Virgin Islands Delegate to Congress Stacey E. Plaskett announced today that the Virgin Islands Port Authority is set to receive $2.3 Million in federal funding to construct an aircraft rescue and fire fighting building at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (HERA) in St. Croix. “I am pleased to announce that this grant that has been awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation. This… Read more »

Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is making available $2.3 million in funding for the establishment of regional centers to support comprehensive food safety training and education, pursuant to the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). “I am pleased to announce this new funding… Read more »

Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett, this week, introduced three pieces of legislation aimed at improving the economy in the U.S. Virgin Islands. •    H.R. 2116 proposes to establish a special visa waiver program for the Virgin Islands, and would allow the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to approve visa-less entry into the Virgin Islands for residents of CARICOM and other… Read more »

Virgin Islands Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has allocated $500 million in federal funding for transportation projects under a seventh round of its Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program. “I am pleased to announce the availability of this federal funding and encourage the… Read more »

Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett announced that during a meeting today with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers there was agreement to increase staffing and resources in order to review projects currently in development in the Virgin Islands that have permit applications pending with the Corps.  During her discussions with Colonel Allen M. Dodd, Commander, Jacksonville District, Rep.… Read more »

Virgin Islands Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett, on Wednesday, issued the following statement in response to President Obama’s proposed fiscal year 2016 budget. “It is encouraging to see the Administration's commitment to the Nation's Island territories in this budget proposal. Federal investments in the infrastructure, education, energy, and health care of Virgin Islanders are… Read more »

Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett led a delegation of Virgin Islands energy officials Monday at the first Caribbean Energy Security Summit in Washington DC. The summit, organized by the U.S. State Department and hosted by Vice President Joe Biden, is a two-day meeting of energy officials from both the U.S. and Canada, as well as several Caribbean heads of state. Congresswoman Plaskett… Read more »

Dear Source: I want to bring a matter of great importance to your attention. A major tax exemption was recently attached to a bill as an amendment by Senator Shawn Michael Malone. By using a last-minute amendment, Senate President Malone avoided the usual committee process and public hearings. At a time when we are facing a budget deficit so serious that government workers were forced to… Read more »