2006-12-07 Cost of Government Commission Minutes

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Ms. Testa said that the other counties have R &D counterparts and are usually called Economic Development offices. They generally come under the mayor's purview. She explained that Hawaii County's R &D office is unlike its counterparts and functions differently. It does not only focus on economic development, but is able to have a broad perspective on what economic development of the island can entail. R &D is research - based, so the employees are knowledgeable about what things are needed prior to decisions being made for the island. R &D has two offices, the main one being in Hilo and a branch being in Kona. R &D facilitates primarily in the areas of agriculture, tourism, small economic development, energy, and film. R &D is the County's library. They produce a data book which is updated every two years, and updated continuously on the web. The R &D people have a particular strategy they follow. They look at the various activities and good works of people around the island who are involved with chambers, businesses, real estate, sports, construction, etc. These people are asked to look into their sectors and see what it would take to move the economy forward. If R &D can support those endeavors, it will. The people who are involved do an incredible job. However, what makes it difficult for them to move forward are the sublevels that operate. The sublevels have to do with basic quality -of -life issues for a number of citizens of this island. Unless those issues are addressed, they will not be able to grow or move forward the way they would like. As a government, if the County could look at those sublevels a different way and address them so that they undergird the efforts of the people, then they could move forward and not be dependent on the government. R &D needs to "build capacity" on these sublevels so that the economy is enabled to move forward. Ms. Testa said that at any given time, the resorts throughout the island are operating with almost 1,000 positions unfilled. The resorts cannot run the way they need to without the labor force to carry out their needs. Her j ob is to look at issues like this to see what it would take to help employees be ready for the labor requirements necessary for them to hold their jobs over time. This means understanding and assessing why the shortage is there. R &D works with communities in putting together "community development projects" ( "CDPs "). The employees go into communities and set up meetings to help empower the people to make a difference in their communities. R &D works with housing and labor to bring in training opportunities and grants. They recently acquired a grant search program which they offer to communities. R &D brings in training and educational opportunities, and they teach communities to be facilitative. R &D is working with the Planning Department to do process pieces for community development plans. All of this work is in addition to R &D's normal function in economic development. R &D's is concerned with long -range goals and what will affect communities over the long haul. Unless they can work with communities and help with economic development that will be sustainable over time, they won't make a big difference. Ms. Testa mentioned that R &D's budget when she started in 2001 was $1.2 million, and it is at $3 million now. 2