The Obama administration is pouring in hundreds of billions of dollars to spur economic growth across the country, and the government of Guam’s share is at least $140 million. And GovGuam is asking for more.
GovGuam is sending a large package of proposals for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to the federal government by next week.
Guam’s Bureau of Budget Management and Research has compiled a total of $463 million in shovel-ready project proposals from local government agencies, said Budget and Management analyst Art Mariano.
Guam EPA, the Department of Public Health and Social Services, and the Department of Labor have received economic stimulus funding notices from the federal government.
President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in February. It authorizes $787 billion for long-term investments in health care, energy, education, and infrastructure nationwide. The federal government hopes to create or save 3.5 million jobs over the next two years through the use of stimulus funds.
To date, Guam programs have received fund notifications that total $52 million, according to the federal government’s economic recovery Web site, www.recovery.gov
Guam’s budget bureau will meet with administration officials within the week to determine the final list of projects for the package.
“We’re confident that we will receive funding for important projects,” said Shawn Gumataotao, the governor’s deputy chief of staff. He said Guam will receive a minimum of $140 million in stimulus funding.
“The No. 1 priority for us is the modernization of the port,” said Gumataotao. He added that other administration priorities include the closure of the Ordot dump and the construction of the new landfill, the expansion of water projects in central Guam, and providing funding for health-care issues on the island.
He said each stimulus program has different timelines and application requirements.
Shovel-ready projects have already been through architectural and engineering reviews, Mariano said. Projects need to begin in 60 to 90 days after the funds arrive, to release project funds in the economy as quickly as possible, he said. Proposals received by the bureau include road projects, port expansions, and a new DNA lab for the Guam Police Department.
Jobs hard to find
The Department of Labor will receive $4.4 million as part of the stimulus package to encourage employment, said Labor Deputy Director Erica Unpingco.
New job programs will begin in June 2009, and will end in July next year. Labor will train new workers and prepare displaced workers for careers in new fields with the money the department has received, Unpingco said. Stimulus money also will be used to to support senior citizen and youth employment.
GPSS
The Guam Public School System has submitted an application to Guam EPA for stimulus-funded projects that will “make our buildings more energy efficient,” said Superintendent Nerissa Bretania-Shafer.
“We’re spending more than $1 million a month on electricity,” said Bretania-Shafer. GPSS wants to upgrade electrical infrastructure at the schools and reseal school roofs to stop leaks and lower temperatures. She hopes these building improvements will cut costs for utilities.
Bretania-Shafer said GPSS still has not received specific guidelines or a dollar amount from the U.S. Department of Education about education stimulus funds.
“(Delegate Madeleine Bordallo) provided preliminary numbers, but we don’t have anything official yet from the U.S. Department of Education,” said Bretania-Shafer, referring to $70 million in federal education funding that Bordallo stated earlier this month would be available to Guam.
Because guidelines for the territories are not available, GPSS has been observing allowable costs for education stimulus spending in the 50 states, Bretania-Shafer said.
She said GPSS wants to upgrade older school buildings, which will cost $30 million to $50 million. This amount was derived from plans developed several years ago, so this is a low estimate, she said.
Officials are still discussing the potential use of stimulus funds to repair John F. Kennedy High School, Bretania-Shafer said.
Repairing the JFK facility in Tamuning would cost $30 million dollars, she said. “We’re still shooting in the dark with our requests at this point,” Bretania-Shafer said.
Source: Bernice Santiago, PDN
GovGuam is sending a large package of proposals for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to the federal government by next week.
Guam’s Bureau of Budget Management and Research has compiled a total of $463 million in shovel-ready project proposals from local government agencies, said Budget and Management analyst Art Mariano.
Guam EPA, the Department of Public Health and Social Services, and the Department of Labor have received economic stimulus funding notices from the federal government.
President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in February. It authorizes $787 billion for long-term investments in health care, energy, education, and infrastructure nationwide. The federal government hopes to create or save 3.5 million jobs over the next two years through the use of stimulus funds.
To date, Guam programs have received fund notifications that total $52 million, according to the federal government’s economic recovery Web site, www.recovery.gov
Guam’s budget bureau will meet with administration officials within the week to determine the final list of projects for the package.
“We’re confident that we will receive funding for important projects,” said Shawn Gumataotao, the governor’s deputy chief of staff. He said Guam will receive a minimum of $140 million in stimulus funding.
“The No. 1 priority for us is the modernization of the port,” said Gumataotao. He added that other administration priorities include the closure of the Ordot dump and the construction of the new landfill, the expansion of water projects in central Guam, and providing funding for health-care issues on the island.
He said each stimulus program has different timelines and application requirements.
Shovel-ready projects have already been through architectural and engineering reviews, Mariano said. Projects need to begin in 60 to 90 days after the funds arrive, to release project funds in the economy as quickly as possible, he said. Proposals received by the bureau include road projects, port expansions, and a new DNA lab for the Guam Police Department.
Jobs hard to find
The Department of Labor will receive $4.4 million as part of the stimulus package to encourage employment, said Labor Deputy Director Erica Unpingco.
New job programs will begin in June 2009, and will end in July next year. Labor will train new workers and prepare displaced workers for careers in new fields with the money the department has received, Unpingco said. Stimulus money also will be used to to support senior citizen and youth employment.
GPSS
The Guam Public School System has submitted an application to Guam EPA for stimulus-funded projects that will “make our buildings more energy efficient,” said Superintendent Nerissa Bretania-Shafer.
“We’re spending more than $1 million a month on electricity,” said Bretania-Shafer. GPSS wants to upgrade electrical infrastructure at the schools and reseal school roofs to stop leaks and lower temperatures. She hopes these building improvements will cut costs for utilities.
Bretania-Shafer said GPSS still has not received specific guidelines or a dollar amount from the U.S. Department of Education about education stimulus funds.
“(Delegate Madeleine Bordallo) provided preliminary numbers, but we don’t have anything official yet from the U.S. Department of Education,” said Bretania-Shafer, referring to $70 million in federal education funding that Bordallo stated earlier this month would be available to Guam.
Because guidelines for the territories are not available, GPSS has been observing allowable costs for education stimulus spending in the 50 states, Bretania-Shafer said.
She said GPSS wants to upgrade older school buildings, which will cost $30 million to $50 million. This amount was derived from plans developed several years ago, so this is a low estimate, she said.
Officials are still discussing the potential use of stimulus funds to repair John F. Kennedy High School, Bretania-Shafer said.
Repairing the JFK facility in Tamuning would cost $30 million dollars, she said. “We’re still shooting in the dark with our requests at this point,” Bretania-Shafer said.
Source: Bernice Santiago, PDN
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