Washington, D.C. — This week Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed a CARES Act grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) of $266,229 through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.

HUD, led by Secretary Dr. Ben Carson, was also the first federal agency to announce CARES Act funding in American Samoa right after that major legislation became law on March 27, freeing up over $801,685 in two coronavirus-related assistance grants at that time.

“Federal funding from the CARES Act is helping American Samoa in a number of ways, as our islands get through the economic results of the pandemic,” said Aumua Amata. “Thank you to President Trump and Dr. Carson for continued support through this targeted grant.”

These HUD funds are to help with public health, coronavirus, housing and economic disruption needs.

The CARES Act provided a major boost in CDBG funding nationally to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. This grant is from the second portion of that effort, and these funds will be allocated to state and insular area governments by May 11.

In addition to grants and funding for ASG, personal federal help is also on the way for many individuals and families in American Samoa because of the CARES Act, including those who will receive relief checks, sometimes called stimulus, along with those applying through ASG for unemployment assistance that the CARES Act provides and the Territory distributes.