HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0362.015 2022-2024 ill
V
una "F(wer Power
July 16,2023
Hawaii County Council
Re: Support for Bill 56,Kilauea Recovery Grant Program
Dear Chairperson and Members of the Hawaii County Council.
Puna Flower Power was a recipient of a$500,000 Grant with the sponsorship of the Big Island Resource
Conservation and Development Council from the Kilauea Recovery Grant program in 2020. That grant
along with an emergency loan and a working capital loan from the Hawaii Department of Agriculture has
enabled the Cooperative to lay a foundation to rebuild the Orchid Industry devastated by the 2018 Kilauea
Eruption.
We were recently informed that the Council will be considering Bill 56 which will enable qualifying
entities to reapply for additional funds to assist in the recovery of the 2018 Kilauea Eruption. Puna
Flower Power strongly supports Bill 56 and we strongly urge Council Members to favorably consider this
legislation.
Puna Flower Power is working very hard to optimize the previous grant but has fallen short of being able
to reach"critical mass"in operations sufficient to reach the goal of re-establishing the orchid industry in
Puna. Having access to additional funding will enable Puna Flower Power to move much closer to
reaching those long term goals.
Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions via email Qordonlnouye0-)jpnail:com or by
cell phone(808)987-5109
Sincerely,
Gordon E. Inouye
President
Cc: Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Assoication
Synergistic Hawaii Agricultural Council
Member of the Board,Puna Flower Power
tto.
190 Keawe Street,Suite 204•Hilo,Hawaii 96720-2849 Ref.
ef. 'JUL