Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga has established and appointed members for the ASG Project Review Task Force, to identify and prepare proposals under new federal economic development programs that'll help stimulate American Samoa’s economy.

The governor notes in his May 3rd memorandum that ASG Commerce Department is taking the lead in pursing the implementation of federal programs such as the EB-5 and Opportunity Zone “to ensure that we capitalize on inherent benefits embedded in these federal incentive schemes.”

“The fundamental keystones ensuring success in securing financial assistance from these federal inducements is the identification of projects and preparing justification that is fully aligned with the envisioned outcome of these programs,” the governor pointed out, adding that the objective of the Task Force is to collaborate with ASG-DOC “to identify and prepare proposals endeavoring to secure financial assistance inherent in these federal economic development stimulant programs”.

The Task Force, chaired by DOC director Keniseli Lafaele, will recommend to Lolo and Lt. Gov. Lemanu Palepoi Sialega Mauga, the proposals for their consideration and decision, prior to the official submission of such proposals to the respective federal program, says the memo.

Other Task Force members are Port Administration director Taimalelagi Dr. Claire Poumele; American Samoa Tele Communications Authority chief executive officer Pulelei’ite Li’amatua Tufele (appointed prior to his passing); Public Works director Faleosina Voigt; Governor’s Chief Legal Counsel Steve Watson and the Governor’s executive assistant, Iulogoogo Joseph Pereira.

The governor has directed DOC staff to perform the legwork and write-up of project proposals for review and compilation of the Task Force’s report for submission.

BACKGROUND

DOC announced in late October 2017 that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has approved a Regional Center under the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program for American Samoa. The approval was effective Oct. 12, 2017.

Lafaele told Samoa News at the time that under the program, investors/entrepreneurs are eligible to apply for a green card if they: make the necessary investment in a commercial enterprise in the US, and plan to create or preserve 10 jobs for qualified US workers.

For the “Opportunity Zone”, the US Treasury Department announced last month it has granted American Samoa’s request for the entire territory to be designated as an “Opportunity Zone” — a federal program created under the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act “to spur investment in distressed communities throughout” the US.

“This is good news for American Samoa as it provides us with another tool to incentivize investment into American Samoa,” Lolo said of the program.