Cash for furloughed workers not receiving pay — now available

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga has established two Cash Assistance Programs (CAP) for impacted workers and businesses in the private sector. Both programs are funded by the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and will cover the period from February 22 to Apr. 18.

The governor made the official announcement in a news release yesterday, saying the cash assistance for “impacted workers” will urgently aid in the immediate needs of eligible workers that have been affected by furlough or reduced hours of employment.

According to the news release, the impacted workers program will provide up to $240 per week for qualified workers for the period that they were furloughed due to COVID-19 Emergency Declaration on Feb. 22.

It also says that the ASG Human Resources Department (DHR) will administer the program and provide details for the application process, eligibility criteria, and the distribution plan.

For impacted business, the cash assistance will assist small to medium-sized businesses that, due to the public health emergency declaration, were required to close or reduce hours of operation resulting in a drop in revenue.

The program will assist or cover business-related costs like rent, utilities, shipping, and other eligible operational expenses up to $10,000 worth per business establishment. And the Commerce Department (DOC) will administer the program and provide details for the application process, eligibility criteria, and the distribution plan.

”Lt. Governor Talauega and I are grateful to our federal partners for the opportunity to provide direct assistance for our local business community and their employees during these difficult times," the governor said in the news release.

"Help is on the way, and this is part of our efforts to be on the path to economic recovery as we navigate through a new norm in our lives, especially operating a business through our first COVID-19 community spread.  American Samoa’s current state of public health emergency has highlighted resilience and adaptability among our local private sector, and it is imperative that we provide new opportunities like the CAP to respond to their immediate needs,” he said.

Lemanu commended ASG’s ARPA Oversight Office director Keith Gebauer, Commerce director Petti T. Matila, Human Resources director Lynn Pulou-Alaimalo for their unwavering commitment and leadership in providing aid to the business community.

“We remain committed to supporting our private sector and being a partner for the territory's wellbeing,” the governor concluded.

No information was available at press time as to when DOC and DHR will announce details on how and when to apply for the cash programs.