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Monday, August 27, 2012

Pierluisi Visits Federally-Funded Projects in the Municipality of Maricao

Maricao, Puerto Rico - Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi visited the municipality of
Maricao today, where he observed several projects completed with federal funds received during his term in office, and received information from Mayor Gilberto Pérez Valentín about local projects in need of additional federal funding.

During his tour of the municipality, the Resident Commissioner visited the project Paseos de Maricao. This project, located on “First of April” Street, is a 12-apartment building for low-income and middle-income families, constructed with the support of a $1.4 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program.

In addition, Pierluisi toured the Judith Seda Ramos Electronic Municipal Library, located behind City Hall, which now has access to high-speed Internet thanks to a combination of municipal funds and $600,000 in federal funds provided under HUD’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.

“I have long wanted to visit Maricao. When I visit a municipality, I enjoy listening to the mayor and to the constituents I represent in Washington, DC. This personal contact with the people is an indispensable component of my efforts to meet their needs,” said Pierluisi.

During today’s visit, the Mayor raised the possibility of channeling the Río Maricao and making improvements to roads such PR-105, PR-120, PR-128, PR-357 and PR-428.

Since 2009, Maricao has benefited from federal funds that were used to repair and modernize several schools, namely Mariana Bracetti, Raul Ibarra, and La Carmen. In addition, 70 families have saved money on their electricity bills after making their homes more energy efficient with funding provided under the Weatherization Assistance Program pursuant to ARRA.

Later this afternoon, the Resident Commissioner will continue his tour of the area, visiting the municipality of Las Marias, where he will inspect the construction work being performed at the Eva and Patria Custodio School as part of the federally-supported “21st Century Schools” initiative.