After a series of exchanges between fire chief David Peredo and Cruz, it was clear that GFD’s itemized grant requests totaling $11 million was not approved because of “non-closure of previous grant.”

“I am greatly concerned over GFD’s failure to maintain an adequate fleet of ambulances, especially as the reason appears to be not so much a lack of funding but a lack of competent grant management,” Cruz said. “I will inform both the governor and GFD’s legislative oversight committee chairman of this situation with a call for an oversight hearing on GFD.”

In his letter to the vice speaker, Peredo said that in the summer of 2009 he took steps to resolve the “ailing” federal grants program by assigning Captain Edward Flores and FSS Joey San Nimlas to assist in saving existing grants, sourcing and applying for new grants.

Peredo said FSS Philip Carnacho joined the team this year “and the three have done an excellent job to revive our federal grants program, resulting in the acquisition of new equipment and soon procurement of several emergency vehicles.”

The vice speaker noted in a previous letter to Peredo that he wanted information regarding the grants that were denied and pending, as well as other issues the fire department was facing. Cruz came up with his own review after receiving the chief’s information.

Cruz noted that GFD received an assistance to firefighters grant in 2006.

GFD received $359,000 in that grant.

Cruz also noted that GFD’s $2 million firefighters grant application for fiscal years 2007 and 2008, were denied “due to non-closure of previous grant.”

“I assume that this is referring to the failure to turn in a close-out report on the 2006 report and GFD’s inability to justify all expenses,” Cruz said.

Cruz also noted that GFD submitted two applications in 2009–$4.5 million for station construction, and $1 million for operations and equipment. Both were denied.

“If my math is right the Guam Fire Department has been denied almost $11 million in assistance to firefighter grants over the last four years because of its failure to close the 2006 AFG in a timely fashion and its inability to justify its expenditures since the closeout report’s submittal eight months ago,” said Cruz.

“It now seems that the chronic ambulance shortage could have been prevented. Should this indeed be the case, corrective action must be undertaken immediately,” Cruz said, adding that GFD cannot continue to jeopardize the health and safety of Guam citizens because of its inability to handle grants.

Ref: MVar 7/7/10

Executive Director Angel Sablan says the council and the Department of Public Health signed a Memorandum of Agreement to start Project HELP, which stands for Helping Enhance Lives with Pride program. Sablan mentions public health told them a couple months ago it had extra ARRA funds that needed to be spent. The council was also told they would get the grant funding and people hired by June 21. However, that never happened. Sablan doesn’t know why the governor hasn’t signed off on the grant, but warns money is lost with each day that passes.

In response, Governor’s spokeswoman Charlene Calip says the grant paperwork is still under review by the Attorney General’s Office. She does mention that once the Governor’s Office has received the paperwork, they will expedite the approval process.

Ref: PNC 7/7/10

As of July 1, GCC President Dr. Mary Okada received word from the U.S. Department of Education that GCC’s application for the Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership and Special Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership programs have been granted, the release stated. The LEAP program will provide GCC students with $10,338 in supplemental work-study funds, while the SLEAP program provides an additional $14,099 for the work-study program and for incentive scholarships, according to the college.

To be eligible for either, a student must be a Pell Grant recipient.

Work-study students typically work 120 hours per semester, and the extra money will allow some students to remain in the work-study program for a longer period of time, or allow more students to partake of the program, according to Micki Lonsdale, GCC financial aid coordinator. Lonsdale noted that a portion of the SLEAP grant is set aside for incentive scholarships of up to $250 per student, for those Pell grant students that maintain a 3.8 GPA with minimum of 24 credits, according to the release.

Ref: GCC RELEASE 7/7/10

Registration for the workshop ends July 8.

The workshop is a requirement all those who are first time applicants for GHC’s Community Grant Cycle for 2010. Working in partnership with the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Guam Humanities Council provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and institutions for humanities programs aimed at public audiences.

Any nonprofit group or organization operating in Guam is eligible to apply for a grant. The council offers three grant formats: mini grants, regular grants and media projects.

Application forms are available at the Guam Humanities Council at Suite 106, Reflection Center, 222 Chalan Santo Papa, Hagåtña.

They can also be obtained online at www.guamhummanitiescouncil.org.

Preliminary proposals for grants are due July 31. Final proposals are due Sept. 4.

Ref: GHC 7/6/10

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced on June 24, 2010, that the USDA will award $30 million to selected states and territories for their excellence in administering SNAP.

“I join Secretary Vilsack in commending the hard work and dedication of our government employees who ensure that, during these times of economic hardship, our needy families receive their food benefits in a timely manner,” said Governor Camacho. “The collaborative support and technical assistance from the Food and Nutritional Services of Region IX has been integral to the improvement and recognition we are receiving.”

According to the USDA, $24 million dollars will be awarded to states with the best and most improved payment accuracy rates, and $6 million will be awarded to the states and territories with the lowest and most improved negative error rates.

The following states and territory will share $24 million for the best and most improved payment error rates for FY 2009:

Best Payment Accuracy Rate
Florida $7,754,744
South Dakota $336,136
Wisconsin $1,894,828
Delaware $407,494
Nebraska $538,955
Washington $2,969,984
Georgia $4,187,866
Ohio $4,875,956

Most Improved Payment Accuracy Rate
Wisconsin (See above. A State cannot receive an award in both categories. If a State qualifies for both, they will receive an award for best.)
Maine $860,779
Guam $173,258

The following states will share $6 million for the best and most improved negative error rate for FY 2009:

Best Negative Error Rate
Nebraska $312,031
South Dakota $214,062
New Hampshire $241,959
Maine $467,482

Most Improved Negative Error Rate
Florida $3,797,503
Wisconsin $966,963

“While all three buildings are equally important with regard to the GCC mission to be a leader in career and technical workforce education, the Student Center is probably the most meaningful new building to our students. It will be a place for them to call their own, to congregate, to study, to celebrate their successes, and to develop their leadership skills,” said GCC President Dr. Mary Okada, who pointed out the accomplishments of several GCC students and graduates in her opening remarks.

“For those of you in the business community and in leadership positions, you know that active students make active, involved, and committed employees and community members, so look to our students at GCC to be your future managers and leaders,” Dr. Okada said.

Acting Gov. Michael Cruz, Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo, and former Asst. Secretary of Interior David Cohen were among the dignitaries that joined Guam Community College students, faculty, staff and administrators to celebrate the groundbreaking. Among the nearly 100 people in attendance were GCC’s 34 Practical Nursing students, who are set to graduate in December.

Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo pledged her continued support to GCC, remarking on Dr. Okada’s determination to find more federal funding for GCC projects when she visits the congresswoman’ office in Washington D.C. “I’m there for you,” said Bordallo.

Situated adjacent to the LRC, the Student Center will consist of a two-story, 22,000 square foot facility that will include a plaza and student square, a student lounge, nine 1000-square foot meeting rooms, and energy efficient photovoltaics. Asanuma Corporation will construct the $3.9 million facility, which is being paid for with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding. The GCC Foundation provided the $253,423 for the A&E design by Taniguchi Ruth Makio Architects. All three of GCC’s new buildings were designed by TRMA as part of GCC’s 2005 Physical Master Plan, which projects the growth of the college over a 15-year period.

The Guam Breast & Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program will continue to provide free mammograms and pap smears to eligible women, ages 50 to 64, for the early detection of breast and cervical cancer.

The Guam Comprehensive Cancer Control Program will continue to support the Guam CCC Coalition in their efforts to implement priority goals and objectives from the 2007-2012 Guam CCC Plan, which includes risk reduction, early detection, better treatment, and enhanced survivorship.

Deputy Superintendent Taling Taitano said last night DOE chose its preferred bidder last week and expects to receive approval from the U.S. Department of Education by today.

Documentation supporting the choice was forwarded to the mainland Saturday, Taitano said.

“We think they are going to agree with our choice,” Taitano said. “I’m sure by the time (DOE Superintendent Nerissa Bretania) Underwood wakes up in the morning, we will have their response back.”

If U.S. DOE approves the choice, Guam’s education agency will begin negotiating a contract and the local school system will be a step closer to relieving a tense situation that’s constricted federally funded programs since last year.

U.S. DOE required the local school system to hire a third-party fiduciary manager last November because consistent concerns with local management of federal funds led the federal agency to question whether grant funding was being spent properly.

The federal government has considered the Guam Department of Education a high-risk grantee since 2003.

Once hired, the agent would approve the spending of federal dollars to ensure money goes to the right places. Until then, federal grant funds are being kept on a short leash and federally funded programs in local schools have had to survive on reorganized grant funds left over from last fiscal year.

It has taken DOE months to select a manager. Underwood has said the entire process was more complicated than first expected.

Six companies bid for the job, Taitano said. She declined to name the preferred bidder until U.S. DOE has approved the selection. If it doesn’t approve Guam DOE’s choice, the local education agency will move to its second pick.

U.S. DOE appointed a financial manager in the Virgin Island’s school system, which improved bookkeeping and increased access to federal funds.

rEF: gpdn 5/25/10

Over 200 radios were presented to the Department of Corrections, Guam Police Department, Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency, the Department of Public Health and Social Services, Airport Police and Airport Rescue and Firefighting, the Department of Parks and Recreation as well as the Mayor’s Council of Guam, a press release from Civil Defense stated.

“Our emergency personnel’s ability to communicate with each other on a daily basis or in the event of an actual emergency is a critical element in ensuring our response is as effective and efficient as possible,” stated Frank T. Ishizaki, Guam Homeland Security Advisor. “This investment will greatly expand the interoperability amongst all of our key players.”

Nearly $580,000 in federal funding from a fi US Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) award was used towards the purchase of these units.

Ref: GPDN 5/22/10

Port Security Grant Program
Guam received $2,257,500 for the Port Security Grant Program (PSGP). The PSGP provides funding to port areas for the protection of critical port infrastructure from terrorism. This funding helps ports enhance their risk management capabilities, maritime domain awareness, training and exercises, efforts supporting implementation of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), and capabilities to prevent, detect, respond to, and recover from attacks involving improvised explosive devices and other non-conventional weapons.

Buffer Zone Protection Program
Guam received $200,000 for the Buffer Zone Protection Program (BZPP). The BZPP provides grants to build security and risk management capabilities at the state and local level in order to secure pre-designated Level I and II critical infrastructure sites, including chemical facilities, financial institutions, nuclear and electric power plants, dams, stadiums, and other high-risk/high-consequence facilities.

Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program
The Department of Homeland Security awarded Guam $85,500 for the Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program (IECGP). The IECGP provides governance, planning, training and exercise funding to states, territories, and local and tribal governments to carry out initiatives to improve interoperable emergency communications, including communications in collective response to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters.

Driver’s License Security Grant Program
Guam received $651,877 for the Driver’s License Security Grant Program (DLSGP). The DLSGP provides funding to prevent terrorism by reducing fraud and improving the reliability and accuracy of personal identification documents issued by States and territories. The DLSGP is intended to address a key recommendation of the 9/11 Commission to improve the integrity and security of State-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards.

“The funding received today from DHS will assist the Government of Guam in improving maritime security on our island,” Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo said today. “The $2.2 million in funding for the Port of Guam in particular will greatly assist security at a location critical to our island’s economy. This financial assistance builds on grants in previous years which have greatly benefited the overall modernization improvements that are needed at our port. I look forward to these programs being fully implemented on Guam.”

Ref: Cong. MZB Release 5/13/10