Commerce Secretary Michael Ada, who is also the head of the CNMI Stimulus Grant Writing Team, could not be immediately reached for comment yesterday.
Leslie T. Rogers, regional administrator of the U.S. DOT Federal Transit Administration, told Gov. Benigno R. Fitial that the CNMI stands to receive over $1.061 million and $52,510 under the FTA Urbanized and Non-Urbanized Formula Programs.
Rogers said the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act or ARRA, mandates that at least 50 percent of the funding for any state or urbanized area be obligated by FTA by Sept. 1 this year.
“On this date, FTA will withdraw any portion of the 50 percent that each state or urbanized areas that successfully obligated at least 50 percent of the funds apportioned to and did not have any funds withdrawn,” said Rogers in a letter to Fitial dated June 29.
If the fund is not obligated by then, it would be redistributed among states.
“We urge the submission of a complete application as soon as possible to avoid any funding redistribution and to potentially position the CNMI for a redistribution of additional funds,” the federal official added.
