The Dallas-based professional services company will guide the construction of power, water and wastewater utilities, hospitals, schools, and transit corridors as part of the “Rebuild USVI” project.
Image: Courtesy U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Jacobs will provide program management services under a $137 million contract awarded by the U.S. Virgin Islands’ Public Finance Authority to help rebuild critical infrastructure across the territory that was damaged by hurricanes.
The Dallas-based professional services company announced in a Wednesday press release that it will guide the construction of power, water and wastewater utilities, hospitals, schools, and transit corridors as part of the “Rebuild USVI” project—a recovery launched after category 5 hurricanes Irma and Maria ravaged the territory’s islands in 2017. The Office of Disaster Recovery (ODR) within the Virgin Islands Public Finance Authority oversees the project, which received over $20 billion in federal funding to support recovery efforts.
The National Hurricane Center estimated that Hurricane Irma caused nearly $1.1 billion in damage as it made landfall across the U.S. Virgin Islands, followed by Hurricane Maria.
Jacobs Executive Vice President Ron Williams commented that rebuilding the territory’s infrastructure is critical for the economic recovery for the territory and its nearly 90,000 inhabitants.
“Further, with tourism as the economic engine, it’s essential we prioritize efforts quickly and make the islands’ infrastructure more resilient for the future,” said Williams.
U.S. Virgin Islands Office of Disaster Recovery director Adrienne Williams-Octalien welcomed Jacobs as a strategic partner in the territory’s continued recovery.
“We are excited to have Jacobs’ support as we continue working to rebuild a stronger, more resilient community while ensuring full compliance with our funding requirements,” said Williams-Octalien in a release announcing the contract.
Jacobs was ranked No. 1 on ENR’s 2024 Top 500 list with 12.7 billion in revenue.
Emell Derra Adolphus has more than a decade of writing and journalism experience. He is senior editor of ENR’s Top Lists and Survey Rankings at ENR magazine and frequently contributes stories on technology, climate resiliency, diversity, equity and inclusion.
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