FAIR SHARE INITIATIVE

The Hawai‘i Fair Share Initiative (FSI) represents an unprecedented effort to bring in more external resources, primarily federal funds to Hawai‘i – to aid in our economic recovery and to enable State government to continue to perform its core missions. Initiated a year ago in the OLG, the work of FSI has become particularly important given that both local and federal funds have become increasingly scarce and therefore, their acquisition, much more competitive.

FSI uses a concentric and collaborative model to further its objectives. This means that we work closely with State grant writers, department leadership, and outside businesses and non-profit organizations to vigorously support their grant pursuit activities. The guiding approach for FSI has been increasing access to information about potentially viable resources, promoting an efficient and productive team strategy in pursuing grants, and getting the bureaucracy to support grant initiatives rather than serve as an impediment.

By utilizing existing funds within the OLG, the initiative was launched at no additional cost to State government. Governor Abercrombie’s creation of FSI elevates, for the first time, the aggressive and coordinated pursuit of federal grants to the highest levels of State government. Although pursuing federal grants is certainly not new in itself, the level of focus and leadership is unprecedented. The changing and unclear federal budget picture necessitates that Hawai‘i be nimble in the identification of federal grants that are available and that would work for the benefit of the State, whether our actions result in finding new opportunities or protecting current resources.

FSI KEY ACTION AREAS

Sharing Real Time Information

• State departments expressed a need for timely information on grants, and so FSI implemented a system that on a weekly basis, electronically notifies State departments of noteworthy grant news and relevant federal funding opportunities.
• FSI launched the Grant Hui, consisting of twenty-seven grant experts from nearly all State departments, that meets regularly to share expertise and provide a forum to collaborate on funding opportunities. In October, the Grant Hui convened its first ever Federal Grant Panel consisting of representatives from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Development Administration, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as well as representatives from our Congressional Delegation, to discuss trends and challenges in federal funding.
• FSI also, when appropriate, suggests which departments should compete for a particular grant and how they might consider partnering with other organizations in pursuing opportunities. This service reduces inefficient overlap among departments, and accelerates decision-making, which is particularly important when the grant application time window is a small one.
• The FSI website (http://hawaii.gov/fsi/) is a communication site covering Hawai‘i-related grant news, FSI services provided, training and workshop opportunities, and other information relevant to grant writers. In particular, the website highlights the exceptionally noteworthy grant successes of our State departments and non-profits.
  

Promoting Collaboration

• Facilitating collaboration between local non-profits and State agencies is a significant way that FSI works to secure increased external funding. An example of this can be seen in the FSI-initiated collaboration between PATH (Peoples Advocacy for Trails Hawaii) and the Hawai‘i Public Housing Authority, who recently teamed up to support each other’s missions by working jointly on proposals funded by the Safe Routes to School program.
• FSI continues to participate on the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Workforce Development Work Group by sharing funding opportunities with members, helping to coordinate letters of support and other logistical aspects of grant application, and supporting the furtherance of the State’s programs and policy objectives.

“Words cannot express my gratitude to [FSI] for your concern, guidance and support…it is priceless.”
- Jodie Diener, Wai Ola O Hina - Moloka‘i

“The Hawai‘i Dual Use technology community and Inovi Group thank [FSI] for clearing a path for the Hawai‘i Academy of Science ARRA funding…The Hawai‘i Academy of Science would have lost the ARRA funding without [FSI’s] expertise and tireless work…[and] assistance to expedite processes required to access these important federal funds.”
- Bernice Bowers, Inovi Group LLC

Building Capacity

• FSI has helped fill the grant writing gap by entering into a unique partnership with the University of Hawai‘i. The University now provides grant writing assistance to State agencies, non-profits, and businesses. The assistance includes, but is not limited to, advice on how to strengthen the financial plan of a grant, how to tighten the focus of a project, and how to pull relevant information together to improve grant competitiveness.
• FSI aggressively uses executive endorsements from the Governor and Lt. Governor for grant applications to demonstrate high level commitment to department, non-profit and local business initiatives which can make grant applications more competitive. FSI has obtained executive letters of support for 22 proposals, six of which won awards totalling nearly 16 million dollars, to support work in the areas of domestic violence prevention, expanding affordable housing, and respite care.
• Currently, FSI is working with the Department of Budget and Finance, Department of Accounting and General Services, and the Governor’s Office to streamline internal requirements for applying for and expending federal funds, as well as making those requirements web-based. Moving in this direction will help reduce processing time and conserve resources while also preparing for anticipated changes in federal fund reporting requirements resulting from the expected passage of the DATA Act, H.R. 2146.
• FSI coordinated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) to have its staff conduct a no-cost grant writing workshop for community-based organizations working to address veteran homelessness, one of whom won a $610,000 DVA grant. FSI was also instrumental in working with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to secure $50,000 worth of technical assistance to further the mission of the Hawai‘i Interagency Council on Homelessness, and in collaborating with the Governor’s Coordinator on Homelessness to obtain a $45,000 grant to address mental illness within the homeless population.
  

SHOWCASING A FEW DEPARTMENT SUCCESSES

Our State departments remain the key drivers for obtaining outside funding with FSI providing oversight and leadership. The following are a sampling of their grants successes over the past year.

• The Department of Human Services was awarded a 9.9 million dollar federal grant to help Medicaid patients with diabetes – Hawai‘i was one of 15 awardees to receive the grant as part of a prevention of chronic diseases initiative. The State and the Hawaii Association of Health Plans partnered in submitting the successful grant application.
• The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs will receive 14.4 million dollars in federal funding, as part of the Affordable Care Act’s Affordable Insurance Exchange grant program. Hawai‘i will join 28 other states in developing new insurance exchanges that are intended to bring comprehensive, affordable health coverage to those in need.
• The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism received a 13 million dollar grant from the U.S. Treasury Department to invest in local small businesses. The money is expected to be matched, 10-to-1, by private investors over seven years that will bring in 130 million dollars in startup funds for small businesses.
• The Department of Health (DOH) resubmitted previously denied Medicaid claims for a one-time influx to the state of revenue totaling over 3 million dollars. DOH made improvements to current billing procedures to prevent such losses in the future and increase its cash flow. Plans for more internal reviews of federal reimbursement rates for Medicaid, Medicare, and other payers should lead to additional funding opportunities.
• The Executive Office on Aging (EOA) received a $200,000 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services grant to help integrate and reform Hawai‘i’s long-term supportive services system for older adults. EOA brought key players to the table to help with this effort, including the UH Center on Aging and Project Dana.
• The State Department of Defense was awarded 1.59 million dollars for upgrades and expansions to veteran cemeteries on the neighbor islands, and has positioned Hawai‘i to receive nearly 100 million dollars for infrastructure improvements of armory and training facilities, and other military projects.
• The Stop Flu at School Campaign was continued for this school year and at least one more school year after facing the very real prospect of shutting down for lack of federal funds. State requests to the private sector for help resulted in more than $780,000 in contributions from Aloha Care, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Kaiser Permanente, MDX Hawaii, United Healthcare, and University Health Alliance.

“This is a vital program for our entire state, and we’re happy to help keep it going.”
- Jennifer Diesman, Hawaii Association of Health Plans President

For more information, please visit www.hawaii.gov/fsi.