LINGLE-AIONA ADMINISTRATION FOCUSES ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR LEEWARD COAST
For Immediate Release: February 8, 2007
HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle and members of her Administration met with Leeward Coast residents this evening and outlined steps the State is taking to work with the community to build economic development opportunities and raise the standard of living for Leeward O‘ahu, specifically along the Wai‘anae Coast.
The Governor hosted the meeting at the Wai‘anae District Park to update residents on the Administration’s homelessness solutions efforts. While progress has been made in developing transitional shelters and housing opportunities, the Governor told residents that the Administration is also focusing on what is needed to address long-standing problems that are major contributing factors to the homeless crises, specifically the area’s disproportionately high poverty and unemployment rates, lack of workforce training, and minimal business diversification opportunities.
As part of this effort, the Administration will form a team of state agencies to address how best to integrate state programs, services and resources, and leverage them with the private and non-profit sectors to meet the needs of Leeward Coast residents in the areas of job training and placement, business development, childcare, housing, health and welfare services.
“While there are many good existing programs for Leeward Coast residents, our strategy is to develop state-private partnerships in which the State works with the community to integrate these services, pool everyone’s resources and capabilities to maximize their effectiveness, and make them more accessible to the people who need the most assistance,” said Governor Lingle.
The interdisciplinary team will be led by the state’s Office of Planning, and will include the Departments of Labor and Industrial Relations; Business, Economic Development and Tourism; Agriculture; Human Services; Health; Land and Natural Resources; Hawaiian Home Lands; and Education. The University of Hawai‘i and Leeward Community College will also be part of the effort.
The team will work collaboratively with the community to identify what the community sees as its priorities, opportunities, challenges and solutions, both for the immediate short-term and the long-term. The team will also conduct surveys and outreach to obtain the community’s recommendations for improving the effectiveness and accessibility of state programs, and how to integrate them with existing services offered by the private and non-profit sectors.
The Administration is proposing three bills this legislative session that would help generate economic development in the Leeward Coast area.
One measure (HB1277/SB1363) would broaden the scope of the Ko ‘Olina tax credits to include other businesses and non-profit organizations that encourage job creation and capital improvements in Leeward Coast communities. The original intent of the tax credit, which was approved by the Legislature for the development of an aquarium and other facilities at Ko ‘Olina Resort, was to stimulate the economy and create jobs in the region. The Administration’s proposal would open the tax credits to anyone willing to invest in the region.
A second measure (HB1273/SB1359) would expand the scope of businesses that qualify for tax credits under the Leeward Coast Enterprise Zone designation to include agricultural activities that increase their gross sales by 2 percent each year.
The Administration’s third proposal (HB1274/SB1360) would help build the management capacity of organizations to engage in self-sufficiency activities by offering small technical assistance grants to community-based organizations totaling $500,000.
While the Administration is focusing on the Leeward Coast, the ultimate goal is to develop a successful model partnership that can be adapted to work in a variety of rural communities across the state.
“The work we are doing along the Leeward Coast, which we hope to expand to other rural communities, ties in with our statewide innovation initiative that focuses on developing the innovative capacity of our residents, laying the foundation for economic diversification and sustainability, and increasing our standard of living,” said Governor Lingle.
Homelessness Solutions Progress
Since last June, when the Governor and her cabinet met with residents about the homeless crisis on the Leeward Coast, the Administration has worked with homeless advocates, service providers, faith-based organizations, the private sector, the military, and the city to open transitional shelters and build affordable housing.
Soon after meeting with the community last June, the Governor issued an emergency proclamation, which paved the way for the state and community partners to develop emergency and transitional shelters in an expedited fashion to serve the homeless living on the Leeward Coast. A Department of Health survey convinced the Governor that potential public health impacts of the homeless crisis required immediate action.
The emergency proclamation suspends certain statutes relating to contracting and bidding requirements, procurement code, use of government vehicles, coastal zone management, environmental impact statements, development permits, zoning adjustments and waivers, and development within special management and shoreline setback areas.
In addition, the Governor named Kaulana Park as the team leader to oversee and coordinate the activities relating to homeless solutions, including serving as a liaison between the public and private sectors.
As a result, in October, the Administration opened the Onelau‘ena transitional shelter at Kalaeloa. The facility, located in a former military building, houses approximately 225 people, including more than 100 children, who had been living on beaches and in parks. Next month, the state will open the Wai‘anae Civic Center transitional shelter, which will serve 300 people.
Both of these shelters are designed to provide the homeless with a safe place to live as well as supportive services to help them work toward gaining self-sufficiency and finding more permanent housing.
The state is also working collaboratively with the Hawai‘i Coalition of Christian Churches (HCCC) to build a new emergency, transitional and affordable rental project in Wai‘anae called Kahikolu ‘Ohana Hale ‘O Wai‘anae. The first phase of the project, which broke ground in December and is expected to be completed in January 2008, will feature 64 units and 40 dorm beds. The State is providing $10.9 million in funding for the project, including a $5 million grant-in-aid, $5.5 million under the emergency proclamation declared in July 2006; and $400,000 from Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund. The Hawai‘i Housing Finance and Development Corporation is leasing the property to HCCC for $1.00 per year for 30 years.
Another project at the Voice of America site in Ma‘ili would house approximately 220 people. This transitional village would include a community center, which will be partially funded by Kamehameha Schools. Additional plans would include a 240-unit affordable rental project adjacent to the village. The project is pending transfer of the land from the federal government to the state.
The state continues to work closely with the city on infrastructure needs for the facilities, specifically water and sewage, and is also coordinating with the City’s Department of Parks and Recreation as it moves forward on park cleanups and improvements. The Honolulu Police and Fire Departments have also assisted the state in developing security plans for the shelters.
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For more information, contact:
Lenny Klompus
Senior Advisor – Communications
Phone: (808) 586-7708
Russell Pang
Chief of Media Relations
Phone: (808) 586-0043
Linda Smith
Senior Advisor – Policy
Phone: (808) 586-5330
