Our View: GEDA grants benefit community in the best way
Pacific Daily News
When the government gives tax breaks to businesses on Guam via qualifying certificates, it’s important that the community benefits in ways beyond the new jobs and economic activity generated.
Businesses issued tax-break qualifying certificates through the Guam Economic Development Authority pay mandatory annual community contributions and GEDA used to keep most of the money for its own operations.
But starting in 2019 the agency began funding availability and provided an opportunity for other agencies and nonprofit groups to apply for grants. On Monday, GEDA announced seven government and nonprofit that were awarded a total of $303,275.40 to fund projects related to economic development, job training and developing small businesses.
More than a dozen unemployed residents, “stuck” because they never finished high school and can’t effectively compete for jobs, are among those who will get help through community contributions paid by Guam Regional Medical City and the Tsubaki Tower.
The Guam Economic Development Authority on Monday announced the seven government and non-profit organizations who have been awarded a total of $303,275.40 to fund projects related to economic development, job training, and developing small businesses.
The money comes from the mandatory annual community contributions, paid by businesses that were issued tax-break qualifying certificates through GEDA.
GEDA used to keep most of that money for its own operations, but in 2019 started a new program that announces funding availability and provides an opportunity for agencies and non-profit groups to apply for grants to fund their eligible projects. GEDA Administrator Melanie Mendiola said GEDA now keeps about 30% to 35% of the communi
Seven organizations were awarded GEDA grants totaling over $300,000 guampdn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from guampdn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
HAGÅTÑA (IHFG) — I Hagan Famalåo’an Guåhan Inc. continues to present “Mo na: Finding Our Way,” a 10-part webinar series for women to examine, analyze and interpret historical roles of CHamoru
The measure would remove the Land Trust from the leasing process.
San Agustin’s Bill 36 also would waive the legal requirement for competitive bidding of Land Trust leases and allow only GTA TeleGuam to lease the submerged land for its $30 million underwater telecommunications cable project.
The bill is scheduled for a public hearing March 11, by the committee on land. It authorizes the governor to negotiate and issue a 21-year lease for submerged land at the Alupang reef flat and channel. The money from the lease would go to the Land Trust.
GTA’s proposal to lease two submerged sites, in Tamuning and Agat, was stalled last summer after the Land Trust board, which was receptive to the idea, decided to begin a competitive bidding process, as required by the Land Trust law.