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According to an announcement from Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen, the money will go to support housing on Maui and an estimated $480 million more will go to economic development, small business loans and water infrastructure, among other needs.

On Friday and Saturday, the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate voted to allocate $1.6 billion in disaster relief through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to support Maui’s efforts to rebuild homes.

Another $480 million will go to Maui for disaster recovery. The mayor’s office says strict federal guidelines govern how the funds can be used, and comprehensive financial reporting by the county will be required.

In response to the funding, Bissen expressed his appreciation for the federal support for Maui’s long-term recovery.

“We are profoundly grateful for this vital disaster relief, which will allow us to begin the critical work of rebuilding and fortifying our community after the worst wildfires this nation has seen in a century,” Bissen said in a statement. “This CDBG-DR funding will not only help our most vulnerable wildfire survivors, but also enable us to invest in projects that will make Maui County more resilient and better prepared for future challenges.”

The mayor also expressed his gratitude for Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz’s work to secure the funding, as well as all Hawai’i’s congressional leaders for their advocacy on behalf of Maui’s wildfire survivors.

“This funding is a lifeline for our community, and I am deeply grateful to Senator Schatz and all of our Congressional leaders for their unwavering support,” Bissen said.

On Friday, Schatz announced that the U.S. House had passed $110 billion in new long-term recovery funding for disaster-impacted communities nationwide with the Senate expected to vote on the legislation on Saturday.

In addition to the estimated $1.6 billion in CDBG-DR funding for housing, about $480 million more will be heading to Maui including $350 million to build critical water infrastructure; $33 million to repair roads; at least $22 million to support economic recovery, agriculture and conservation efforts; $19 million for child care; and at least $12 million to provide loans to impacted small businesses.

In an effort to ensure the effective management of these funds, the county has established a CDBG-DR Program Office within the Department of Management’s Office of Recovery.

“We are fully committed to working in close collaboration with state, federal and local partners in this comprehensive recovery effort,” said John Smith, administrator of the County Office of Recovery. “Together, we will build a stronger, more resilient Maui for the benefit of wildfire survivors and all residents of Maui County.”

County officials are encouraging Maui residents and local stakeholders to stay informed about ongoing recovery programs and opportunities at mauirecovers.org/cdbgdr.