Jan. 11, 2006 – With pre-disaster mitigation an important component of the V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency's agenda, VITEMA Director Howard Baker Tuesday announced the latest opportunity for government departments and civic organizations to apply for federal funding for their mitigation projects.
"Get in there and retrofit and repair," he said.
VITEMA will accept applications through Feb. 20, and the applications will be forwarded to the Homeland Security Department by March 3.
The grants come from the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Competitive Grant Program and are awarded on a competitive basis. Nationally, the federal government allocated $50 million for the grants, technical assistance and program support.
Eligible activities include mitigation planning, which has a $1 million cap on the federal share of the project. Additionally, mitigation projects have a $3 million cap on the federal share. Both must be completed in three years.
And the grants allow for 10 percent of the funding to go toward disseminating information, 10 percent for management costs and 5 percent for sub-management costs.
To apply for a Pre-Disaster Mitigation Competitive Grant, contact VITEMA's state hazard mitigation officer, Jacqueline J. Heyliger at 773-2244.
In other grant news, Baker said Central High School on St. Croix and St. Andrew's Church on St. Thomas each received $115,000 for federally-funded flood mitigation projects.
These grants do not need a local match.
Baker said both areas suffer from extensive flooding. The projects include erosion control and engineering improvements.
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