SAIPAN — Congresswoman Kimberlyn King‑Hinds announced that the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs has awarded $11,372,446 in Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025 discretionary grants to support infrastructure, energy, education, and natural‑resource initiatives in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
“These awards are the result of strong proposals, careful preparation, and hard work by local agencies,” King‑Hinds said. “I want to sincerely congratulate everyone who helped secure these funds. I also commend Governor (David M.) Apatang and his administration for continuing to push for federal resources to support critical areas like infrastructure, energy, education, and environmental protection.” She also thanked OIA for its continued support of the CNMI and the territories, calling the awards a reflection of the agency’s commitment to improving quality of life in the islands.
According to the announcement, the funding includes:
• Technical Assistance Program: $1,500,000 to the Department of Finance for Project Finish; $400,000 to the Public School System for Digital Workflow Capacity; and $344,000 to the Marianas Visitors Authority for the Tourism Recovery Initiative.
• Maintenance Assistance Program: $343,175 to the Public School System for public school maintenance; and $200,000 to the Department of Public Works for a street sweeper.
• Coral Reef and Natural Resources: $320,213 to the Department of Land and Natural Resources for coconut rhinoceros beetle detection, eradication, and prevention measures; and $278,598 to DLNR for biosecurity and natural‑resources management support.
• Brown Treesnake Program: $550,000 to DLNR for the interdiction program.
• Energizing Insular Communities: $2,500,000 to the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation for Battery Energy Storage System integration for grid stability in Saipan (FY 2024); $2,497,500 for a 2.5‑megawatt generator replacement for Rota; $1,162,000 for a battery energy storage system on Rota to enable growth, peak shaving, and grid stability; $698,960 for continuation of the pre‑pay meter conversion project; $300,000 for Power Plant 1 SCADA Phase 2 commissioning and training; and $278,000 for the utility substation training program.
King‑Hinds added that OIA is coordinating with the CNMI government and the Bureau of Labor Statistics to finalize support for a CNMI Consumer Price Index to improve local inflation and cost‑of‑living data.
