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AGENDA REVISED I TO: Members, Committee on Economic Development and Agriculture The Honorable Senator Angel L. Bolques, Vice-Chair The Honorable Senator Marvin A. Blyden The Honorable Senator Alma Francis Heyliger The Honorable Senator Marise C. James, Esq. The Honorable Senator Franklin D. Johnson The Honorable Senator Clifford A. Joseph, Sr. FROM: The Honorable Senator Hubert L. Frederick Chairman, Committee on Economic Development and Agriculture DATE: April 1, 2026 RE: April 10, 2026 - Committee on Economic Development and Agriculture Meeting The Committee on Economic Development and Agriculture has scheduled a meeting for Friday, April 10, 2026, at 10:00 AM in the Frits E. Lawaetz Conference Room on St. Croix, Virgin Islands to provide testimony on the following: BLOCK I – 10:00 AM TO 12:00 PM The Committee on Economic Development and Agriculture will convene a hearing focused on Sustainable Economic Development to receive testimony from government agencies, authorities, and institutional partners regarding policies, programs, and initiatives that support long-term economic growth in the Virgin Islands. In light of the approximately $25 billion in federal awards secured by the Territory, the hearing will examine how these resources are being translated into meaningful opportunity and measurable outcomes. The Committee will assess cross-sector coordination related to land use and planning, workforce development, housing availability, infrastructure financing, innovation and research, disaster recovery, agriculture, tourism, and data-driven economic analysis, with particular attention to actions being taken to maximize the impact of these investments across communities, government agencies, for-profit enterprises, and nonprofit organizations. Invited Testifiers:  Honorable Jeniffer Matarangas-King, Commissioner VI Department of Tourism  Wayne L. Biggs, Jr., Chief Executive Officer VI Economic Development Authority  Dr. Haldane Davies, Director Bureau of Economic Research  Eric Sonnier, Director UVI Research & Technology Park  Dwayne Alexander, Director VI Housing Authority LUNCH BREAK - 12:00 PM T0 1:00 PM BLOCK II - 1:00 PM TO 3:00 PM Continuation of testimony from government agencies, authorities, and institutional partners regarding sustainable economic development initiatives in the Virgin Islands. Testimony will further examine implementation and execution of programs supported by federal funding, including how approximately $25 billion in federal awards are being coordinated, deployed, and leveraged to maximize impact across communities, government agencies, for-profit enterprises, and nonprofit organizations. Discussion will also address cross-sector collaboration related to land use and planning, workforce development, housing availability, infrastructure financing, innovation and research, disaster recovery, agriculture, tourism, and data-driven economic analysis. Invited Testifiers:  Honorable Jean-Pierre L. Oriol, Commissioner VI Department of Planning & Natural Resources  Honorable Dr. Louis E. Petersen, Jr., Commissioner VI Department of Agriculture  Honorable Gary A. Molloy, Commissioner VI Department of Labor  Dr. Safiya George, President University of the Virgin Islands  Nathan Simmonds, Director Virgin Islands Public Finance Authority Cc: All Senators All Chiefs of Staff All Divisions Public Affairs