Well-deserved money coming from Uncle Sam

Never let it be said that Hawaii’s congressional delegation can’t deliver the

goods in the form of federal money for richly deserving community and economic

development projects.

With Sen. Daniel Inouye and others doing some of the

prodding, the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee this week included $16

million for his state in a spending proposal for Uncle Sam’s fiscal year 2001.

Before it becomes more than just numbers on paper, the money must be

approved by congressional budget managers, plus the full Senate and the House.

And the president eventually must sign the measure. But indications are that

the money, if not a done deal, at least has the backing necessary to come down

the chute. For Kaua’i, that means $1 million is on its way here for two

projects, each of them getting a $500,000 chunk.

West Kaua’i Technology and

Visitors Center will use its half of the dough for building the second phase of

its technology facility in Waimea. The project apparently is chomping at the

bit, with officials saying the facility on Kaumuali’i Highway will be fully

occupied by players in the island’s high-tech industry as soon as it’s

completed.

Also in Waimea, the remaining $500,000 awaiting final

authorization in Washington, D.C. will go toward expanding Kaua’i County’s

wastewater treatment plant. Officials say the plant needs to grow in order to

keep pace with the Waimea populace.

In terms of taxpayers’ dollars at work,

the two projects on Kaua’i are examples of how federal money should flow to

local communities. The technology and visitor center is important to the

island’s economy, and the treatment plant is an integral part of the

infrastructure serving people’s needs and the environment. Kudos to the folks

on Capitol Hill and here who helped put these funding packages in order for the

good of Kaua’i.