USVI EDA and Bureau of Economic Research review programs, urge focus on trade zone, housing and workforce

Wayne Biggs Jr., chief executive officer of the Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority, and Haldane E. Davies, director of the Bureau of Economic Research, testified to the Committee on Economic Development and Agriculture on June 9 about current programs, funding and priorities for stimulating economic growth in the territory.

Biggs outlined EDA operations, saying the authority integrates the Economic Development Bank (EDB), Economic Development Commission (EDC), Enterprise Zone Commission (EZC) and Economic Development Park Corporation (EDPC). He told the committee the EDA manages a staff of 48 full‑time employees and oversees two industrial parks, noting the William D. Robock Industrial Park and the Virgin Islands Industrial Park are at or near capacity.

"We are a customer service based organization that creates positive public private sector partnerships to promote economic growth," Biggs said, adding that the authority had an annual local appropriation of $6.6 million and manages roughly $85 million in federal grants.

Biggs described key programs and recent results, including the VI Slice home‑ownership gap financing program and the territory’s allocation under the State Small Business…