LIHU‘E — A vertical high-density environment controlled farming facility, mental health training and a land-based coral nursery are all projects currently up for public discourse in the hopes of landing $50,000 in funding.
The county’s Office of Economic Development is offering up to 10 Innovation Grants for projects benefiting short-term and long-term economic growth and diversification for the island. And now, the county is fielding public comment through Feb. 22.
“COVID has changed many things in our community and it really caused us to rethink how we are spending those funds and the types of programs we are funding,” OED’s Business Innovation Coordinator Diana Singh said in a webinar about the grants. “With the changing rules and changing landscape because of the pandemic, we can no longer fund events and programs that we traditionally funded in the past.”
In December, the county requested proposals for grant ideas with a due date in mid-January for a funding opportunity between April of this year through March 2022.
“We as an office questioned how we can best fund programs and projects that solve the problems that the community is facing right now, whether that is because of COVID-19 or because of long-term problems we’ve been facing,” Singh said.
Project categories range from those specializing in agriculture and sustainability and conservation to small businesses and arts and culture.
Earlier this month, projects were anonymized and uploaded for public review. Those who are interested can rate projects on a sliding scale from low priority to high priority, typing out comments on the
proposals. Off the initial comments, others can provide more feedback.
One of the most popular projects is for a high-density climate-controlled vertical farm, which would be the first on the island. Unlike a greenhouse, this type of farming can be scaled to grow about 30% more increase year over year annually. The project seeks to add jobs including farm hands, construction and project management.
Another highly rated project includes a first-of-its-kind coral nursery that would allow for coral reef restoration using micro-colony-fusion, which allows for accelerated growth of coral. Currently in the permitting process to grow and outplant corals, the applicant is proposing to build a small-scale nursery aquaculture system, according to the public application. The proposed location is at the Kaua‘i Sailing Association’s property in Nawiliwili.
Other projects focus on providing mental health training for food distribution staff, providing marketing for local businesses, opening collaborating learning environments for women and restoring of the Powerline Trail through Malama Aina Staff and community workdays.
Public comment is open through Feb. 22, and projects will be selected by March 8.
To read proposals and submit comments, visit oedinnovationgrant.consider.it.
