DBAS gets two DOI grants totaling more than $100K
President of the Development Bank of American Samoa Utu Abe Malae has confirmed that DBAS was recently awarded two separate grants from the Department of Interior. According to Utu, DBAS was awarded $80,000 for the design of energy efficient and durable, affordable homes, and another $27,000 is to help with institutional strengthening of the bank; in particular, to pay for the participation of the bank in regional, national, and international advocacy or trade organizations.
Utu said that Jilla Piroozmandi prepared the grant applications with the help of Jason Betham and other DBAS staff members.
The two grants are from the DOI’s Office of Insular Affairs’ Operations and Maintenance Improvement Program (OMIP).
With respect to the first grant and its purpose, Utu said DBAS will soon be requesting the services of designers who are competent in ‘energy efficient’ design.
Utu said they will definitely take into account ASPA’s proposed rules regarding the inter-tie to the ASPA electric grid for customers who generate their own electricity.
As for the $27,000 grant that will be used to help pay the cost of participation in the international and national trade or advocacy associations, Utu said that knowledge gained from such participation can be leveraged into immense savings or opportunities for the bank, as face to face interaction can be more effective than just researching on the internet or sending e-mails.
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