Government

U.S. Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small Joins Plaskett on Recent Visit to St. Croix as Congresswoman Uses Influence to Advocate for USVI

U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small recently joined Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett on a visit to St. Croix, as the congresswoman continues to leverage her influence in Washington to advocate for the territory. Ms. Smalls joined Ms. Plaskett on March 21 in Frederiksted for a roundtable discussion with local agencies and stakeholders about USDA Rural Development programs that can help advance the Virgin Islands. "We discussed the programs available to build and improve housing, funding challenges and opportunities, provide renewable energy development assistance and make energy efficiency improvements, and financing for telephone and broadband services," Ms. Plaskett said. "USDA Rural Development has invested millions in the U.S. Virgin Islands – over $15 million in just the last fiscal year with an investment of over $5 million in single family housing, $5.7 million in multifamily housing, as well as over $100 thousand in water a...