MIN CHARTER 2018-09-14 (2018-2020)

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Hawai`i County Charter Commission -3 September 14, 2018 aid participation programs which affect the County. We all know there are still grant-in-aid programs at the state level, but those are, I don't believe the County is eligible for those. Those are for non-profit organizations for the most part and again, in terms of informational and regulatory knowledge, the way we interpret that and the best we could glean from the record, is the intent was to be informed and very knowledgeable about the federal funding sources that are available to local jurisdictions and then help agencies who are eligible for some of those funds make best use of them. Bring as many to those federal dollars down to the local level and make informed strategic use of those dollars. MS. RICE: So you don't do that anymore or you never did it? MR. WHITMORE: Ah, we, the department in the past has had, has played a role in helping, we'll share information about funding sources and we still do. We wrap that now into kind of our information and research role, but the way to access information about grants and funding resources has evolved significantly to the point where there is such a diversity of funding sources and those of us with experience trying to capture dollars through grants or other means know that itis often a very project specific endeavor to identify the best funding sources and secure them. So really the best way to go about that today is using online search tools and so the best way at the federal level is grants.gov and it's become quite user friendly even incorporating now a grants management component and on the private side, we have and continue to provide free access to local non -profits to foundation grant search. programs. And so, that's the way we currently interpret our role in helping not just the government agencies but local non -profits identify the best funding sources for the initiatives they'd like to lead on locally. MS. RICE: Are you suggesting that we delete that or that we modify it based on the way that you assist for funding in today's world? MR. WHITMORE: I guess we didn't come with a specific proposal per say. I guess our understanding was that the purpose of these initial meetings was to raise areas that the Commission might want to take a look at. So I guess we share this in that spirit. Is that it might merit a closer look and consider whether it's something that you might remove or maybe it's adapted for more modern times. We kind of wanted to leave that to your discretion. MS. RICE: Thanks. MS. TODD: Mr. Chair CHR. ADAMS: Commissioner Todd MS. TODD: Just for historic references, the Counties used to get a percentage of • GET (General Excise Tax) once upon a time. Then the State changed it to a Page 8