OEA and Interior Urge Federal Consideration of Funding for Guam’s Buildup
Guam - In Orlando Florida, Governor Felix Camacho met with 15 federal agency principals to discuss the military buildup on Guam, the challenges facing the island in response to the buildup, the need for partnerships, and the roles of stakeholders during the 2009 Defense Community Conference.
“My job is to ensure that in the end, the integration of this project into the fabric of our community will make Guam a better place. That is why I am here today – to expand the partnership we created with the Department of Defense to now more effectively include the other agencies of the federal government that we need assistance from,” said Gov. Camacho.
The 2009 Defense Community Conference, convened by the Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA), included leaders from the U.S. departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Interior, Labor, Transportation, and Defense, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency and the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.
Officials discussed Gov. Camacho’s Prioritized Capital Improvement Project (CIP) Fiscal Year 2010 listing, which federal officials reviewed at the request of the OEA. Interior echoed the request and further encouraged agencies to consider how Gov. Camacho’s priorities can be addressed under their current programmatic funding.
The continuation of these high-level meetings for Guam was encouraged by Interior officials and other federal leaders who noted that the Obama Administration has elevated the Guam Buildup and that responses from various federal agencies to the governor’s Prioritized FY2010 listing are already taking place.
Read More: http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1448:oea-and-interior-urge-federal-consideration-of-funding-for-guams-buildup&catid=45:guam-news&Itemid=156
‘Marianas buildup, not Guam military buildup’
Guam Lt. Gov. Michael Cruz yesterday said he and Gov. Felix P. Camacho propose to rename what has long been known as the Guam military buildup to “Marianas buildup,” and both look to forming a regional economic task force to tap a projected $2 billion to $4 billion in annual defense-related contracts associated with the influx of military personnel on Guam.
Cruz was the keynote speaker at yesterday’s opening of the two-day 2009 Economic Restoration Summit, which drew over a hundred businessmen and government officials from the CNMI and Guam.
Read More: http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?newsID=89102&cat=1
Summit identifies 4 alternative industries for CNMI
The pre-economic restoration summit identified agriculture, aquaculture, educational tourism, and call centers as four alternative industries for the CNMI, which now relies heavily on a dwindling tourism sector to fuel its economy after the demise of the once almighty garment industry.
Lawmakers and other government leaders on Friday identified ways and policies that will help develop these four industries identified by the private sector during a similar session two weeks ago.
Read More: http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?cat=1&newsID=88953
EPA to Train Emergency Responders in Guam
Emergency response staff from the EPA’s Pacific Southwest regional office will hold two emergency response training sessions for Guam first responders Nov. 4 through 7 in conjunction with the United States Coast Guard and Oceania Regional Response Team meeting in Guam on Nov. 7.
The hazardous materials response training will cover the operation, maintenance, and repair of equipment presently available to Guam first responders. The session will also include hands-on exercises in identifying unknown hazards, such as agriculture chemicals and pesticides, hospital radiation sources, drug labs, and other situations where chemicals are improperly disposed or buried. This training session will also be held in CNMI the following week.
Read More: http://eponline.com/articles/2008/10/23/epa-to-train-emergency-responders-in-guam.aspx
US: Schafer announces awards totaling $1.3 M to support agricultural marketing projects
Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer today announced matching grants totaling over $1.3 million to support agricultural market research in 24 states and territories.
“Farmers are the first important part in the chain of food production, and these USDA matching grants support new and practical links from farm to market” said Schafer.
Guam – $26,900 to the Guam Department of Agriculture to develop a comprehensive data collection system for agricultural production and marketing information, to improve market efficiency through a better balance of supply and demand for key agricultural products.
Read More: http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=26356