Welcome to American Samoa
Gov. Togiola announces $1 million award for partnership in broadband mapping and planning
Submitted by jamataga on Fri, 03/05/2010 - 13:32
(UTULEI: Friday, March 5, 2010) – Governor Togiola Tulafono today announced the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has awarded American Samoa $1 million for broadband mapping and broadband planning. The Office of the Governor and the American Samoa Department of Commerce have partnered with BroadMap to create a broadband availability map and to measure current high-speed internet access coverage for American Samoa.
The breakdown of the actual award: $558,000 for broadband mapping and $500,000 for broadband planning.
The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) has allotted $7.2 billion for the development and expansion of broadband nationwide, $350 million of which is set aside for the Broadband Data Improvement Act (BDIA) to enable states and territories to develop granular and transparent broadband serviceability maps.
Gov. Togiola announces $10 million ARRA award for ASTCA's BLAST project
Submitted by comm_dir on Thu, 03/04/2010 - 17:54
(UTULEI: Thursday, March 4, 2010) – Governor Togiola Tulafono today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service (RUS) via the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 has awarded the American Samoa Telecommunications Authority (ASTCA) a loan/grant totaling $95,496,763. ASTCA will receive a $10,000,000 loan and an $81,034,763 grant, with an additional $4,462,000 in matching funds.
Gov. Togiola and Mrs. Mary Ann Tulafono attend White House Governors’ Ball
Submitted by Newsroom on Sun, 02/21/2010 - 21:10
(WASHINGTON DC: Sunday, February 21, 2010) – Governor Togiola Tulafono and Mrs. Mary Ann Tulafono tonight attended the 2010 Governors’ Ball hosted by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House.
The annual event, a festive black-tie dinner for state and territory chief executives and their spouses, as well as members of the Obama administration, coincides with the winter meeting of the National Governors Association.
Held in the State Dining Room, Governor Togiola and Mrs. Mary Ann Tulafono were seated at a front table, which also included the president’s Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel and Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood.
Gov. Togiola and NGA committee meet with Transportation Secretary Lahood
Submitted by Newsroom on Sun, 02/21/2010 - 16:15
(WASHINGTON DC: Sunday, February 21, 2010) – Governor Togiola Tulafono (D) today, as a member of the National Governors Association Economic Development and Commerce Committee, joined California Governor Arnold Schwarzenneger (R), committee chairman, Delaware Governor Jack Markell (D), vice chairman, and other governors who are members of the committee for discussion with Secretary of Transportation Ray Lahood on a national surface transportation policy.Entitled - “The Future of Surface Transportation" - the discussion allowed the governors the opportunity to offer their views and to encourage Secretary Lahood to lead the way, through President Obama and onto Congress, for the development of a more effective and more sustainable transportation system for the United States through the National Surface Transportation Policy.
First Lady Michelle Obama appeal to governors at NGA winter meeting for support on childhood obesity initiative
Submitted by Newsroom on Sat, 02/20/2010 - 12:05
(WASHINGTON DC: Saturday, February 20, 2010) - Governor Togiola Tulafono and the nation's governors today convened the winter meeting of the National Governors Association (NGA) in Washington DC.As the governors of states and territories address critical issues at the NGA that include health care reform, America’s First Lady Michelle Obama was invited to open the conference where she discussed childhood obesity and her initiative called “Let’s Move.”
In her opening remarks, First Lady Michelle Obama appealed to the nation's governors to join in her initiative to reduce childhood obesity and praised many of the governors for the work already underway in the states.
"There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this problem,” said Mrs. Obama. “While the nation needs a comprehensive approach to fighting childhood obesity, that doesn't necessarily mean an expensive approach.”
Governor Togiola in Washington DC for annual National Governors Association winter meeting
Submitted by Newsroom on Mon, 02/15/2010 - 09:55
(UTULEI: Monday, February 15, 2010) - Governor Togiola Tulafono departed the Territory on Sunday night to attend meetings in the mainland, which begin in Washington DC at the end of the week.In the nation’s capital, Governor Togiola will join the governors of states and territories at the annual National Governor’s Association winter meeting, which begins this Saturday, February 20th. First Lady Michelle Obama will be the opening speaker at the NGA conference. She will speak on her new initiative on childhood obesity and the need to make improvements in child care settings, schools, and communities to support obesity prevention among the nation and territories’ children.
Gov. Togiola: “We thank God for sparing American Samoa of more devastation”
Submitted by Newsroom on Sat, 02/13/2010 - 18:15
(UTULEI: Saturday, February 13, 2010) - The Cyclone Warning for the Territory of American Samoa was cancelled today at 6am by the National Weather Service in Tafuna, who then issued a Gale Warning, which was cancelled at 6pm.
Governor Togiola Tulafono issued the following statement after Tropical Cyclone Rene moved away from American Samoa:
STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR TOGIOLA
We give thanks to God for his grace, mercy and loving kindness in allowing Cyclone Rene to spare American Samoa of more devastation than we can handle at this time.
Gov. Togiola prepares American Samoa for Cyclone Rene
Submitted by Newsroom on Fri, 02/12/2010 - 17:15
(UTULEI: Friday, February 12, 2010) – Governor Togiola Tulafono today met with members of his Cabinet and emergency first responders as American Samoa braces for Cyclone Rene, which is scheduled to arrive on Tutuila at 9 o’clock tonight.In a briefing at the Territorial Emergency Management Coordination Office in Tafuna, Governor Togiola said the Territory’s emergency agencies are prepared and he expressed his gratitude for the preparation for Cyclone Rene.
Governor Togiola issued the following statement as the Territory prepares for the arrival of the storm.
Gov. Togiola welcomes home Domata Peko, Rey Maualuga and Jonathan Fanene; Samoan Bengals donate $40,500 to disaster relief fund
Submitted by Newsroom on Mon, 02/08/2010 - 02:30
(UTULEI: Monday, February 8, 2010) – Governor Togiola Tulafono today welcomed home Domata Peko, Rey Maualuga and Jonathan Fanene of the Cincinnati Bengals.
In welcome remarks at the Office of the Governor, Governor Togiola lauded the three NFL players on their achievements in the National Football League, which has put “American Samoa in the limelight.”
In a special presentation, Domata Peko, on behalf of his teammates, the Cincinnati Bengals and the people of Greater Cincinnati, presented to Governor Togiola a check in the amount of $40,500 as their contribution to the American Samoa Disaster Relief Fund.
Gov. Togiola disaster update: “Moving along and going very well.”
Submitted by Newsroom on Fri, 02/05/2010 - 22:45
(UTULEI: Saturday, February 6, 2010) – Governor Togiola Tulafono on his weekly radio program –Mo Lou Silafia– gave a disaster update on the Permanent Housing Construction Program, the National Emergency Grant, and Disaster Unemployment Assistance that it was “moving along and going very well.”
Permanent Housing Construction Program
Governor Togiola said Construction Orders have been issued for three applicants. Fourteen applicants have had their Land Use Permits approved, while 32 are awaiting Site Inspection Requests.
The Construction Orders for houses for the three applicants are for two 2-bedrooms, and a 1-bedroom.
