77.7 F
Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeCommunityHealth & WellnessEncarnacion Says Construction of New WIC Program Building Is on Schedule

Encarnacion Says Construction of New WIC Program Building Is on Schedule

The WIC Program Building construction is expected to be completed in September 2023. (Submitted photo)

The new Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) building on St. Thomas is on schedule. The photos demonstrate the progress being made by J. Benton Construction as the foundation work is being completed.

The building’s construction, valued at $3.7 million, began shortly after the official groundbreaking ceremony on Sept. 28. The Gov. Albert Bryan and Lt. Gov. Tregenza Roach Administration look forward to the building’s completion in September 2023.

Funding for the project comes from the original $6,313,056 grant provided to the Department of Health by the August 2018 U.S. Department of Agriculture Award pursuant to the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018.

In the St. Thomas-St. John District, the V.I. WIC program serves 1,270 low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, infants and children up to age five.

Program participants receive supplemental foods, nutrition and breastfeeding education at no cost, as well as referrals to other health and social services programs. Services provided through the WIC program are 100 percent federally funded.

The Virgin Islands Department of Health (DOH) was one of the first programs in the country to participate in the original pilot project that later was officially established as the WIC program in 1974. The Virgin Islands DOH WIC program is more than 50 years old and is one of the oldest programs in the nation.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Keeping our community informed is our top priority.
If you have a news tip to share, please call or text us at 340-228-8784.

Support local + independent journalism in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Unlike many news organizations, we haven't put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as accessible as we can. Our independent journalism costs time, money and hard work to keep you informed, but we do it because we believe that it matters. We know that informed communities are empowered ones. If you appreciate our reporting and want to help make our future more secure, please consider donating.