OIA PRESS RELEASE

Ebeye Receives Compact Money

U.S. Embassy Majuro (May 9, 2008) - On Friday, May 9, 2008 U.S. Ambassador Clyde Bishop delivered a letter from Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne to RMI President Litokwa Tomeing announcing the Notification of Grant Award in the amount of $2,373,000 for the Ebeye Stabilization Project.

On Friday afternoon, May 9, 2008 Ambassador Bishop met with RMI Minister of Foreign Affairs Tony de Brum and presented the Notification of Grant Award for the Ebeye Stabilization Project for the Minister’s signature and acceptance.  Funding for this grant award is provided under the Compact of Free Association between the Government of the United States and the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.  The $2,373,000 provided under this grant is a combination of funding available and sourced from prior year grants for Ebeye Special Needs ($1,783,360) and Public Sector Infrastructure ($589,140).  This $2,373,000 will be used for the following projects on Ebeye: $1,000,000 for fuel for KAJUR power generation, $700,000 for KAJUR generator purchase, $500,000 for Reverse Osmosis Unit repair and system improvements, and $173,000 for the purchase of a refuse disposal vehicle.