(a) For the purpose of aiding and cooperating in the planning, undertaking, carrying out, development, construction, maintenance and operation of federally assisted programs or projects, and to enable the Government of the United States Virgin Islands, through its several executive departments, agencies and instrumentalities, to qualify for federal assistance in such programs or projects, the heads of said executive departments, agencies and instrumentalities, subject to the prior approval of the Governor and the Finance Committee of the Legislature, are hereby empowered and authorized to participate in the programs and projects of the Federal Government in the respective authorized fields of activity of such departments, agencies and instrumentalities, and in connection with such participation, and in addition to powers otherwise conferred by law, to enter into contracts and agreements with the Federal Government for any purposes related to such approved programs and projects. The Governor and the Finance Committee of the Legislature shall be notified by the department, agency or instrumentality through the Department of Human Services, Virgin Islands State Clearinghouse, at the earliest possible time of its intention to participate in a federally assisted program or project and in no event shall notification of any application for said participation be made later than forty-eight hours (Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays excepted) after the time of said application or receipt of any unilateral action of the funding agency. The Governor and the Finance Committee of the Legislature shall have a reasonable time as determined by the Governor from the date of any notification of intent to participate in a federally assisted program or project to indicate, in writing, his or its desire to review the application for participation and, if no such written notification is made, approval by the Governor or the Finance Committee of the Legislature, as the case may be, shall be presumed at the expiration of a reasonable time as determined by the Governor. If notification of intent to review is made by the Governor or the Finance Committee of the Legislature, said review and either approval or disapproval shall be accomplished within a reasonable time as determined by the party requesting the review immediately following the date of notification, otherwise approval of participation in said program or project shall be presumed at the expiration of such period. For those Projects or Programs for which matching appropriations or other enabling legislation has been enacted, approval of the Governor and the Legislature may be presumed.
(1) to comply with such contracts, and any Federal rules, requirements, regulations and procedures applicable to such programs or projects;
(2) to receive contributions or grants, and accept other forms of financial assistance from or through the facilities or guarantees of the Federal Government, and to accept and comply with such conditions as the Federal Government may impose upon, or attach to its financial aid;
(3) to comply with any conditions imposed by the Federal Government in connection with participation in such programs or projects relating to wages and hours of labor, labor standards and compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, P.L. 88–352;
(4) otherwise to comply fully with any conditions imposed by the Federal Government upon participation by the various executive departments in such approved programs or projects, it being the intent of this section to enable such departments to do any and all things necessary to secure participation in the federally assisted and approved programs and projects and to qualify for Federal financial aid in the same.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all funds which are received by the Government of the United States Virgin Islands from the Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary's Community Development Block Grant shall be allocated equally between the district of St. Croix and the district of St. Thomas and St. John.