Governor Outlines Stimulus Funding for Energy and Education

Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr. welcomed Thursday’s announcement from the White House, which increased the stimulus funding that the territory will receive for energy programs. “Updated figures have the Virgin Islands total monies for weatherization at just over $1.4 million and $20.6 million is slated for the State Energy Program. These funding levels are on top of the monies the Energy Office will receive via formula allocation,” de Jongh said Thursday. The monies are contained in two of three formula grants under Title IV of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The $20.6 million for the State Energy Program will be used to promote the conservation of energy and to reduce the rate of growth of energy demand through the development of a comprehensive territorial energy conservation plan. The Weatherization Assistance Program monies will be used to assist low-income families in reducing their energy bills by weatherizing their homes. “These monies can be used to improve the energy efficiency of low-income homes by installing solar water heaters and energy-efficient appliances,” de Jongh said.

The Governor pointed out that the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants which is estimated to be $9.8 million, has not yet been released. These funds will be used to reduce fossil fuel emissions, decrease energy consumption, improve energy efficiency in the transportation, building and other energy consuming sectors as well as to spur economic growth and create jobs and retain employment.

While there was a slight increase in the amount of State Energy Program funds received, the actual Weatherization Assistance Program funds received is actually lower than initially anticipated, de Jongh noted.

Earlier this week, the White House made public the funding levels the Territory can anticipate for Education under the stimulus legislation. This funding is on top of formula allocations being provided and represents an opportunity to improve teaching and learning programs as well as to increase services to children with disabilities and well as plan improvements to school campus and improve and or install technology in public school campuses. 

“There are several categories in which the territory will benefit,” de Jongh noted. The lion’s share of the funding will total $9.4 million in Title I monies, $1.1 million in Education Technology State grants and almost $353,000 under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. “Title I monies are used for schools that have a high concentration of students from families who live in poverty. The monies are to be used specifically for the improvement of teaching and learning for students that are most at risk of failing to meet academic standards.” 

Additionally, de Jongh said the Virgin Islands is expected to receive Pell Grants totaling $1.4 million, $17,600 for a federal work study, monies for Vocational Rehabilitation in the amount of $350,000 and about $23,000 for Independent Living Centers. The offshore territories will also share $268,000,000 in State Stabilization funding which equates to about $67 million for the Virgin Islands.

On Thursday, Office of Economic Opportunity Director Julito Francis and Nathan Simmonds, Senior Policy Advisor to the Governor met with Vice President Joe Biden and members of the Obama Administration. The goal of the daylong meeting was to ensure that the implementation of stimulus funds provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is effective, transparent and efficient. 

“The meeting also allowed for Director Francis to interact with the other appointed economic opportunity czars from around the country to share ideas and discuss the ARRA with members of the Obama Administration,” de Jongh said.

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