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.”
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 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.
Read more at The Garden Island