WASHINGTON, D.C. (Office of the CNMI Congressional Delegate) — U.S. Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds on Saturday, announced that the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs has awarded a total of $11.3 million in fiscal years 2024 and 2025 discretionary grant funding to support infrastructure, energy, education, and natural resource initiatives in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
“These awards are the result of strong proposals, careful preparation, and hard work by local agencies,” said Congresswoman King-Hinds. “I want to sincerely congratulate everyone who helped secure these funds. I also commend Governor Apatang and his administration for continuing to push for federal resources to support critical areas like infrastructure, energy, education, and environmental protection.”
She also thanked the Office of Insular Affairs for its continued support of the CNMI and the territories. “These awards reflect OIA’s commitment to improving quality of life in the islands. I am grateful for their partnership and for the responsiveness they’ve shown to the Commonwealth’s priorities and its dire fiscal condition.”
The Office of Insular Affairs has awarded a total of $11,372,446 to the CNMI through several grant programs:
Technical Assistance Program
• $1.5 million to the Department of Finance for Project Finish,
• $400,000 to the Public School System for Digital Workflow Capacity, and
• $344,000 to the Marinas Visitors Authority for the Tourism Recovery Initiative.
Maintenance Assistance Program
• $343,175 to the Public School System for public school maintenance, and
• $200,000 to the Department of Public Works for a street sweeper.
Coral Reef and Natural Resources
• $320,213 to the Department of Land and Natural Resources for Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Detection, Eradication and Prevention Measures, and
• $278,598 to the Department of Land and Natural Resources for Biosecurity and Natural Resources Management Support.
Brown Treesnake Program
• $550,000 to the Department of Land and Natural Resources for the BTS Interdiction Program.
Energizing Insular Communities
• $2.5 million to the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation for Battery Energy Storage System or BESS Integration for Grid Stability in Saipan (FY 2024),
• $2.497 million to CUC for a 2.5MW generator replacement for Rota,
• $1.162 million to CUC for a BESS to Enable Growth, Peak Shaving, and Grid Stability on Rota,
• $698,960 to CUC for continuation of the Pre-pay Meter Conversion Project,
• $300,000 to CUC for Power Plant 1 SCADA Phase 2 Commissioning and Training, and
• $278,000 to CUC for the Utility Substation Training Program.
Additional regional grants were awarded that will benefit the CNMI, including those supporting coral reef management, the Close-Up Foundation, judicial capacity-building, and the Prior Service Trust Fund.
“This is the kind of collaboration that drives real progress,” said King-Hinds. “Local leadership, technical proposals, and federal partnerships all played a role in making this possible. I remain committed to working with our government agencies to ensure these projects move forward and that more opportunities are unlocked for the Marianas.”
Congresswoman King-Hinds also noted that OIA continues to coordinate with the CNMI government and the Bureau of Labor Statistics to finalize support for the CNMI Consumer Price Index, which is expected to improve local data on inflation and cost of living.