Press Releases

For Immediate Release                             Contact: Michael J. McQuerry

September 27, 2019                                                       202-215-8524

PRESS STATEMENT

CONGRESSWOMAN STACEY E. PLASKETT ANNOUNCES $3 MILLION GRANT FOR VITEMA FROM FEMA FOR THE VIRGIN ISLANDS HURRICANE RECOVERY EFFORTS

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett released the following statement regarding a $3 million grant for VITEMA from FEMA to go towards the rebuilding of the U.S. Virgin Islands associated with Hurricanes Maria and Irma:

“Today, I am pleased to announce a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The grant is for $3,982,818.49 in federal funding to the V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency for State Management Costs. Management Costs are any indirect costs and administrative expenses that are reasonably incurred by a Grantee in administering a grant award.  State management cost activities may include:

·        Solicitation, review, and processing of subapplications and subgrant awards;

·        Subapplication development and technical assistance to subapplicants regarding feasibility and effectiveness, BCA, and EHP documentation;

·        Geocoding mitigation projects identified for further review by FEMA;

·        Delivery of technical assistance (e.g., plan reviews, planning workshops, training) to support the implementation of mitigation activities;

·        Managing grants (e.g., quarterly reporting, closeout);

·        Technical monitoring (e.g., site visits, technical meetings);

·        Purchase of equipment, per diem and travel expenses, and professional development that is directly related to the implementation of HMA programs; and

·        Staff salary costs directly related to performing the activities listed above.

“This important grant will benefit the Virgin Islands tremendously with our ongoing rebuilding efforts making the Virgin Islands whole again after experiencing two devastating hurricanes. The United States government and the international community has an obligation to work with the affected local governments to restore infrastructure, provide critical humanitarian assistance, and help recover and build back our islands.”

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