Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $10.3 Million to Establish Workforce Training Facility in Northern Mariana Islands

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $10.3 million grant to Northern Marianas Technical Institute, Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, to support workforce education and training through the construction of a new facility to house the school’s trades program. This EDA grant is expected to create 410 jobs, retain 385 jobs, and generate $2 million in private investment.

“EDA is pleased to support Northern Marianas Tech’s construction of its new workforce career training facility,” said Dennis Alvord, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. “This project will help the Northern Mariana Islands respond to the economic impact of Super Typhoon Yutu by boosting training opportunities for citizens looking to compete for high-skill, high-wage jobs.”

“We are very thankful to the Economic Development Administration for their support of our workforce education and training needs here in the CNMI,” said Governor Ralph DLG. Torres. “Local workforce development has always been my top priority, and this project will help us build a modern facility that will support the goals of our new NMTI Board of Trustees, led by our Chairman Mario Valentino, on expanding educational offerings like construction and culinary and ultimately assist our residents get jobs within our community.”

“NMTI applied for this federal aid in September 2019, so it will be welcome news that the Biden administration is ending their long wait,” said Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan. “Together with the recently announced grants to Northern Marianas College, EDA is confirming that investing in education is key to recovery from Super Typhoon Yutu and the pandemic and one of the best ways for us to build back better.”

The project will fund the construction of a building to house classrooms and office space for Northern Mariana Technical Institute’s trades programs, as well as ancillary infrastructure including roadway improvements and on-site parking. The new facility will be constructed to withstand future adverse weather events and will include a back-up generator, water storage tank, and typhoon shutters for all its glass windows.

This project is funded by the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 116-20) (PDF), which provided EDA with $600 million in additional Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program (PDF) Program funds for disaster relief and recovery for areas affected by Hurricanes Florence, Michael, and Lane, Typhoons Yutu and Mangkhut, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, and other major natural disasters occurring in calendar year 2018, and tornadoes and floods occurring in calendar year 2019, under the Robert T. Stafford Act. Please visit EDA’s Disaster Supplemental webpage for more information.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.