A Breakdown Of The Funds Local Radio Stations Received From The Hurricane Recovery Fund

Governor Kenneth Mapp during his Wednesday press conference announced that local radio stations had been awarded various amounts of funding through the hurricane recovery fund, dubbed the Fund for the Virgin Islands (FFVI) and administered by the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (C.F.V.I.), for their efforts in keeping residents updated before, during and after the 2017 hurricanes that walloped the USVI. At the time, the governor did not reveal the amount received by the stations, but C.F.V.I. made available the totals per station to The Consortium this afternoon. (C.F.V.I. issued a release today that revealed the amounts awarded, but the release did not specify how much was awarded to each station. The complete breakdown was provided to The Consortium in a followup email.)

Here are the amounts awarded to each station, according to C.F.V.I.:

• Caledonia Communications Corporation (WSTX A.M. and F.M. stations): $10,000
• Crucian Educational Non-profit, Inc.: $10,000
• WJKC, including Isle 95.1: $30,000
• Ottley Communications Corporation (WSTA): $25,000
• Reef Broadcasting, Inc., including 1620 A.M. among other stations: $25,000

According to C.F.V.I. President Dee Baecher-Brown, these grants were made following submission and review of supporting documentation from the 5 eligible broadcasters whose emergency broadcasting during and after the storms facilitated critical exchange of emergency information between officials and the public. She said the awards serve to partially reimburse the stations for the costs they incurred in providing a critical life-line of communications during the storms and in the immediate aftermath of the hurricanes to the entire community, especially at risk residents.

Ms. Baecher-Brown added that the recommendation by the Hurricane Recovery and Resiliency Task Force was made to C.F.V.I. for grants from F.F.V.I. in 2017, under the IRS guidelines for disaster relief to for-profit businesses to achieve charitable purposes to “lessen the burdens of government.” “The delay in award until February 2018 was in the interest of due diligence to gather required documentation from the stations including current business licenses and Federal Communications Commission registration,” she said.

During the Wednesday press conference, Mr. Mapp praised the radio stations for their work. “We recognized the critical assistance your stations provided to the community before, during and after Hurricanes Irma and Maria,” he said. “Supporting timely exchange of information between officials, experts and the general public, was and continues to be of vital importance in promoting preparedness, safety and well-being.”