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<br /> AKINAKA & ASSOCIATES, LTD Page 3 of 3 <br /> rather, the lack of housing that is affordable to the workforce. <br /> Clearly we need new, diverse, and higher-wage employment opportunities as well as, affordable <br /> workforce housing. However, placing such affordable housing requirements on the investors who <br /> generate new employment opportunities is very much like killing the goose that lays the golden egg. <br /> Instead, it may be wiser for us to recognize that prospective employers look at numerous factors <br /> including and not limited to, an available and educated workforce. Currently, Hawai i County employers <br /> are facing challenges finding and sustaining such a workforce, and often the lack of affordable housing is <br /> cited as a primary reason for this shortfall. This leads us to the adage of "what comes first the chicken or <br /> the egg" - or in this case, "workforce or workforce housing"? As such, perhaps a better strategy would <br /> be for us to focus on identifying and implementing the means by which we can increase the inventory of <br /> affordable workforce housing, which in turn, would attract a workforce, the availability of which would <br /> encourage investment and thus, create more employment opportunities. <br /> In the past, HLPC has worked with the County to identify and offer such tools through efforts including <br /> and not limited to, formation of the West Hawaii Housing Foundation which successfully established (and <br /> continues to operate) the Captain Cook Elderly Housing, and hosting an affordable housing workshop in <br /> which County representatives participated and which produced a series of objectives and opportunities <br /> including financing tools for consideration. The Hawaii Leeward Planning Conference humbly requests <br /> that the Council revisit policy development on affordable housing and consider all of the contributing <br /> elements to this issue to ensure a sustainable policy that will endure through both good and difficult <br /> economic times. HLPC is committed to partnering with the County to review all contributing factors and <br /> identify components that will help in developing such a sustainable policy. <br /> In the interim, absent a comprehensive discussion as noted above, the Hawaii Leeward Planning <br /> Conference is opposed to Bill No. 156. <br /> Thank you for your leadership in finding and executing a responsible solution, and for this opportunity to <br /> express our views on this matter. <br /> Respectfully submitted, <br /> Jacqui L. Hoover <br /> President <br /> Hawaii Leeward Planning Conference <br /> 3/9/2007 <br /> <br />