DOI grants awarded to Guam, NMI

A variety of business, government and community grants were announced in late January and early February.

The U.S. Department of the Interior announced a variety of projects and programs Feb. 6 CHamoru Standard Time, which are funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. These include: 

$975,000 to the Northern Mariana Islands to support the restoration of flora ecosystems, assessing inactive quarries and exploring restoration and reclamation of those quarries, and supporting invasive species efforts throughout the territory. 

$154,000 to Guam for participation of territorial representatives from American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands in the 2023 Regional Biosecurity Training in Guam hosted by the department’s Office of Insular Affairs for the Caribbean and Pacific regions at the Hyatt Regency Guam in December.  

Thirteen graduate companies of the Guam Unique Merchandise and Art program were awarded Feb. 5 a total of $325,000 in Guam Economic Development Authority incubator grants.

The businesses and their awards are:

• Almighty Greens, microgreens grower, $50,621
• Black Flash Media, printing company, $37,111
• Featherpens, streetwear apparel, $16,552
• Ifit Shop, wood carvings, $32,841
• Isla Trading LLC doing business as Hafa Bee Farms, $30,750
• It Takes A Village, recycled baby clothing/furniture, $12,775
• Kingfisher’s Noni, herb tea and skin care products, $17,446
• Leche Drip, street, sport and swimwear, $9,590
• Neijem Creationsz, FSM themed apparel, $8,612
• Obsessed, children’s clothing, $24,052
• Paradise Cards, card appraisal services, $12,194
• Salastudio, photography and digital services, $27,016
• The Automotive Healer, automotive services, $45,807.60

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Jan. 29 Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands will benefit from the new Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer program this year, which grants monthly amounts to low-income families for groceries for children when schools are closed.

According to Gregorio “Kilili” Camacho Sablan, the NMI delegate to Congress; and James C. Moylan, Guam’s delegate to Congress, the amount for the two regions will be $177. Some 11,000 children in the NMI will benefit, Sablan said. mbj