Business Development Program Initiatives

Initiatives

1. Provide assistance to numerous inquires from new and established businesses requesting information, support and referrals.
2. Provide technical assistance to County departments, as well as community and business organizations in the preparation of grant proposals, which were submitted to various State and Federal agencies.

• Honoka‘a Business Association, Inc. - Funding provided to refurbish the weathered murals in Honoka‘a and complement the planned heritage center and sustaining local businesses.
• Laupāhoehoe Train Museum - Funding provided as matching to the USDA funding for the restoration of the Laupāhoehoe Train Museum Railroad rolling stock and wye.
• County of Hawai‘i, Department of Human Resources - Funding assistance provided for the development and production of an educational/recruitment video on public safety, County of Hawai‘i occupations.
• Hawai‘i Food Manufacturers Association - Funding provided to conduct a workshop for small manufacturers regarding pricing, distribution and marketing of their products.
• Pulama Ia Kona Heritage Preservation Council - Funded background work that Pulama Ia Kona completed to meet State materials and standards to qualify as the first Hawai‘i State Scenic Byway.
• Hawai‘i Island Economic Development Board (HIEDB) - Funding provided to update the Hawai‘i Island component of the Statewide Economic Development Comprehensive Strategy (CEDS).
• Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Cooperative - Funding provided for marketing of Ka‘ū Coffee that has placed among the top ten speciality coffees in the world for the past three years.
• The Kona Association for Retarded Citizens dba Arc of Kona - Administered a Hawai‘i County Council appropriation for the Arc of Kona to train and identify participants who have the talent, motivation and drive to improve their skills while learning business practices to form their own businesses.
• Hawai‘i Organic Farmerss Association - Funding provided for the development of Transitioning to Organic Workshops to assist farmers to obtain organic certification.
• Friends of NELHA - Funding provided to conduct informational workshops regarding Act 221/215 high technology tax credits and the Research and Development tax refunds.
• Hawai‘i Guava Growers Cooperative - Funding provided for marketing of Hawai'i grown guavas.
• Kailua Village Business Improvement District (KVBID) - Administered a Hawai‘i County Council appropriation to support initial projects of the Kailua Village Business Improvement District (KVBID), the first Business Improvement District in the County of Hawai‘i.