HUD approved U.S. Virgin Islands mitigation action plan for hurricane recovery funds

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development approved the U.S. Virgin Islands’ mitigation action plan for a fourth tranche of disaster relief funding tied to the 2017 hurricanes, Government House said on Aug. 19, 2021.

The approval allowed the territory to begin using Community Development Block Grant mitigation funds for housing, infrastructure and public facilities, economic resilience and revitalization, public services, and planning.

Government House said the fourth tranche was part of $774 million in disaster relief funding for the 2017 storms. The funds are administered locally by the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority in collaboration with the Office of Disaster Recovery.

According to the statement, mitigation funds differ from Community Development Block Grant disaster recovery funds because they can be used for critical mitigation needs without a direct tie to a specific disaster.

Government House said the action plan was shaped by public input gathered through town hall meetings, focus groups and surveys conducted in 2020. The plan proposed activities addressing unmet needs in infrastructure and public facilities, economic resilience, housing, public services and planning.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-applauds-huds-approval-of-cdbg-mitigation-action-plan-for-hurricane-recovery/