Interior grants $300,000 to improve ASG’s data collection and statistical analysis

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In a notice received last week, the Department of Interior Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) informed the Department of Commerce (DOC) of its decision to award a technical assistance grant of $300,000 to enhance and improve the territory’s statistical framework.

Acting Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Nikolao Pula notified Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga of the award and offered his support in seeing this grant implemented.

As outlined in the territory’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), DOC aims to build a robust business environment and ecosystem. To accomplish this, according to DOC, the territory must take the necessary steps to capture data and statistics more effectively. Modernizing the processes whereby critical and necessary information is gathered, compiled, analyzed and distributed has been long overdue.

“In an era where data flows are fast and dynamic, it is essential that we modernize our data analysis processes such that we can make well-informed and data-driven decision on policy, use and allocation of resources, and other key issues,” DOC Director Petti Matila stated.

DOC also serves as the ASG coordinating agency for OIA’s Technical Assistance Program (TAP) and Maintenance Assistance Program (MAP). Director Matila acknowledges how extremely helpful the OIA TAP & MAP programs are and how grateful the territory is for the continued support.

American Samoa has been awarded $2,075,844 in Fiscal Year (FY) 2021. The projects funded through FY 21 TAP & MAP awards are as follows:

• $269,000 to the Office of Disaster Assistance and Petroleum Management for the ASG Building Survey project;

• $250,000 to the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources for a feasibility study and design for a multipurpose and integrated Malaloa Marina;

• $243,000 to the Office of the Secretary of American Samoa for a Modernization project;

• $225,000 to the Office of the Governor for Improving Cyber Security and Upgrading IT;

• $210,000 to the Department of Treasury for the Digital Archive of Treasury Documents project;

• $175,000 to the Department of Treasury for the Tax System Replacement Feasibility Study and Design Document;

• $150,000 to the Political Status Office for the Constitutional Convention project;

• $98,844 for the Department of Public Safety for Fire Equipment and Gear;

• $175,000 to the Department of Commerce for the Office Expansion and Upgrade Project; and

• $280,000 to the Department of Public Works for the Gas Station Rehabilitation project.

OIA TAP & MAP funding is made available each fiscal year and Director Matila encourages all ASG agencies to submit project proposals to DOC to be included on the Governor’s priority listing for submission.