Amata Welcomes Over $1 Million in Airport Grants for Pago Pago and Manu’a
Washington, D.C. – Friday, Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata welcomed official notice of four U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grants for American Samoa's airports through appropriations by Congress in last year's COVID relief that combine for $1,050,816.
"Thank you to Port Director Chris King, and any others working with him on these efforts, and congratulations to Governor Lemanu," said Congresswoman Amata. "These airports are our long term link to the U.S. and the world, and we appreciate helpful federal funds."
"Thank you especially to FAA Administrator Steve Dickson for continuing to recognize the importance of our air service in American Samoa with these grants," Amata continued. "Thank you also to Secretary of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg."
The primary non-discretionary grant of $1,020,127 will provide federal funding to American Samoa Government for the Pago Pago International Airport at Tafuna. It provides economic relief funds for costs related to operations, personnel, cleaning, sanitization, janitorial services, debt service payments, and combating the spread of pathogens.
A second FAA grant for Pago Pago International Airport of $12,689 provides economic relief from rent and minimum annual guarantees to on-airport car rental, on-airport parking, and in-terminal concessions located at Pago Pago International Airport.
Two more grants of an additional $9,000 each are for locations in Manu'a — $9,000 to Ofu Airport and $9,000 to Fitiuta Airport.
These two grants again provide economic relief funds for costs related to operations, personnel, cleaning, sanitization, janitorial services, debt service payments, and combating the spread of pathogens at the airports.
The DOT/FAA notice describes each grant as funded through the Coronavirus Relief and Response Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act of 2020.