ASCC receives $115,789 Grant for COVID public education efforts

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata welcomed notice of $115,789 in COVID-19 grants for the American Samoa Community College’s efforts to educate the community on COVID-19.

The grant, which is a program of the US Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Administration for Community Living (ACL), will fund a program by ASCC to increase community awareness and education of public health issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, it will fund salaries, professional equipment, and other supplies.

“I wholeheartedly welcome this important grant for the people of American Samoa,” said Amata. “Increasing awareness and education of public health is always important, but it is especially important given the circumstances we are currently in with the COVID-19 spread.”

“This grant is just one of the many ways that the federal government is helping American Samoa in our hour of need. We all know of the HHS and FEMA response teams that have been cycling in and out of the island over the past few months, and we are forever grateful for their service to American Samoa. I will continue to do all I can to direct more federal resources to the territory to ensure we weather this storm.”

“I congratulate ASCC President Dr. Rosevonne Pato and State Director Tafaimamao Tua-Tupuola of ASCC’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities for their hard work on this grant. I also thank HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and ACL Acting Administrator Alison Barkoff for their support of American Samoa during this difficult time.”