Grants approved for Port upgrades, conservancy
DOI Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas Tony Babauta today signed-off on a grant for $2 million that will support projects currently underway with the Guam Port Authority's Modernization Program.
By KUAM NewsGuam - Last week it was $50 million, this week $2 million. DOI Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas Tony Babauta today signed-off on a grant for $2 million that will support projects currently underway with the Guam Port Authority's Modernization Program.
Commenting on the award, Babauta said the funding further demonstrates Guam's importance and the Federal government's view that the island be prepared to accommodate the upcoming growth in commerce due to the relocation of U.S. Marines from Okinawa, Japan.
Babauta also signed a $130,000 Coral Reef Initiative Grant award to the Nature Conservancy's Micronesia Program. The money will be used to further commitments established by the Chief Executives of the Micronesia Challenge to effectively conserve 30% of the near-shore marine and 20% of terrestrial resources across Micronesia by 2020.
Over the next two years, the Nature Conservancy proposes to assist in identifying eco-regional priorities throughout Micronesia to strengthen fisheries management and establish broad-based, functioning conservation networks.