WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs’ (OIA) Technical Assistance Program (TAP) is proving funding through the Close Up Foundation and the Micronesia Conservation Trust for students from the U.S. territories and freely associated states.  

 “This funding will provide important opportunities to high school students with important civic-education opportunities through the Close Up Foundation, and also provide important fellowships for strengthening management of natural resources throughout the Micronesia region,” said Interior Assistant Secretary, Insular and International Affairs, Douglas W. Domenech.  

Fiscal year 2020 Technical Assistance Program grant funding totaling $884,978 will be provided to support student civic-education programs and capacity development for students studying natural resource management and related careers in the U.S. territories and freely associated states as follows:

On Tuesday Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed notification of the grant. “I’ve always enjoyed so much having our Close Up students visit the U.S. Capitol and American Samoa’s congressional office in D.C.,” said Aumua Amata.

“I don’t know the next time those travel activities will be, but it’s a good program for our young people, a reward for their efforts, and a chance to learn. Thank you to Secretary David Bernhardt, Assistant Secretary Doug Domenech, and especially our own local educators working in the lives of our students.”

— Close Up Foundation – $672,978 will be used to support the Close Up Insular Area Program, which provides civic education programs about government for students and teachers from the U.S. territories and the freely associated states who plan to visit the Washington, D.C., area in the summer of 2021. A portion of the funds will support virtual learning programs instituted since the coronavirus pandemic and professional development for teachers. The Close Up Foundation headquartered in Alexandria, VA, manages this program for students from the insular areas.

— Micronesia Conservation Trust - $212,000 will be used to support graduate students from the Micronesia region who are pursuing degrees in resources management and related degrees. These students will be assigned to carry out a project with a host agency in either of the Micronesia Conservation Trust entities, which are the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. Funds will also support Micronesia Challenge Young Champions, which provides undergraduate students working with organizations focused on conservation of natural resources. The goal is to encourage and support new and emerging leaders for resource management efforts in the Micronesia region.

The OIA Technical Assistance Program is made available each year by Congress to support priorities in the U.S. territories and the freely associated states. For more information on grant assistance provided through OIA, please visit: https://www.doi.gov/oia/financial-assistance.