Over 1,000 Projects Completed, $18B Obligated as Bryan Administration Advances Recovery Efforts
The V.I. Office of Disaster Recovery (ODR) has released its 2024 Annual Report, outlining a year of substantial progress in hurricane recovery efforts and laying the groundwork for even more expansive infrastructure projects across the U.S. Virgin Islands.
2025-04-07 20:16:50 - VI News Staff
The report highlights over $18.1 billion in obligated funding and more than 1,000 completed projects, marking a critical turning point in rebuilding the territory after Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
Governor Albert Bryan Jr., in a message included in the report, described the past year as a milestone in the territory’s recovery journey. He emphasized FEMA’s additional commitment of $13 billion in funding and noted key projects such as the $116 million revitalization of the Walter I.M. Hodge Pavilion and the launch of the Own-a-Lot, Build-a-Home program to support first-time homeownership. “Thanks to the commitment of ODR and our partners, 1,017 projects have been completed, and 90 construction projects are actively underway,” the governor stated.
Director of the Office of Disaster Recovery, Adrienne L. Williams-Octalien, said the agency is focused on execution and action. A major achievement was the increase in the federal cost-share adjustment from 90% to 95% (and 98% for fixed-cost offer projects), saving the Virgin Islands close to $2 billion. “We remain committed to ensuring these projects serve as a foundation for a stronger, more resilient Virgin Islands,” she said.
Key initiatives include the establishment of the Super Project Management Office (SuperPMO) under the Rebuild USVI initiative. This office will oversee more than 40 large-scale projects totaling over $8 billion in funding. These include the reconstruction of schools, hospitals, utilities, roads, and critical infrastructure throughout the three islands. Solicitations for school and hospital bundles on St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John are already underway, with most major projects expected to be under contract by the end of 2026.
In 2024, the territory obligated more recovery funds than in the previous six years combined. Of the $20 billion in anticipated funding, $18.1 billion has been obligated and $3.77 billion expended. The FEMA Public Assistance program alone accounts for $15.7 billion, while the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program holds $1.9 billion.