OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
PRESS RELEASE
(for immediate release – Thursday, June 28, 2007)
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Governor Togiola announces
Pat Galea’i and Uili Leauanae as certified specialists for HUD HOME program

(UTULEI) – Governor Togiola Tulafono announced today that Pat M. Galea’i, working under the Office of the Governor as the director of the Office of Federal Programs (OFP), and Uili Leauanae, employed with the Department of Commerce as the manager of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, recently became certified as Specialists for the Home Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program, as a result of their passing an examination administered by the U. S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) directly after a three-day training workshop in Honolulu that was held in May.

“I am very happy with this great news as it is a great achievement for the American Samoa Government in certifying members of our workforce in the implementation of our grant programs,” said Governor Togiola.

Governor Togiola said Mr. Galea’i, with a test score of over 80%, is certified as both HOME program staff and technical assistance provider to Participating Jurisdictions (PJs), HUD partners, and nonprofits receiving funds under HUD’s Community Development Technical Assistance (CDTA) program. Scoring between 70 and 80%, Mr. Leauanae is certified as HOME program staff. Their certifications are valid for five years.

“Although neither Galea’i nor Leauanae are directly involved in the actual administration of the local HOME program, they play important peripheral roles,” said Governor Togiola.  “As CDBG program manager, Leauanae is involved in the planning and implementation of projects which affect the CDBG program, particularly germane to homelessness and affordable housing. Galea’i, as American Samoa’s Single Point of Contact (SPOC) and OFP head, oversees the HOME Program and provides technical assistance.”

Two Development Bank of American Samoa employees will take the HUD course and examination in the very near future.

Administered locally by DBAS, the HOME Program makes available to low-income families and individuals over $600,000 annually for home construction and rehabilitation.