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REPORT OF THE <br /> COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS <br /> AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT <br /> DATE: November 19, 2019 Re: Comm. No. 601/Res. 400-19 <br /> PLACE: Council Chambers <br /> Kailua-Kona, Hawaii <br /> TIME: 1:19 P.M. <br /> Council Chair and Members <br /> Hawaii County Council <br /> Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br /> Your Committee on Governmental Relations and Economic Development, to which was referred <br /> Resolution No. 400-19, reports as follows: <br /> Resolution No. 400-19, transmitted by Council Member Herbert M. "Tim" Richards, via <br /> Communication No. 601 dated October 30, 2019, requests the nomination of the North Kohala <br /> Enterprise Zone for Re-Designation by the Governor, as the District of North Kohala proved this <br /> designation was economically beneficial. The State of Hawaii had previously designated the <br /> District of North Kohala as an Enterprise Zone for a twenty-year period, set to expire in April <br /> 2020, pursuant to Chapter 209E, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and Chapter 6 of Title 15, Hawaii <br /> Administrative Rules. Further, Section 31-1, Hawaii County Code 1983 (2016 edition, as <br /> amended) states that the purpose of designating an area as an enterprise zone is to stimulate <br /> business and industrial growth, as well as providing State incentives such as a seven-year <br /> exemption from general excise taxes on gross proceeds from all business conducted within an <br /> enterprise zone, and an eighty percent income tax abatement the first year. <br /> Council Member Richards pointed out that the purpose and intent of Enterprise Zones, as well as <br /> the aspects of the content of the Resolution No. 400-19, had just been discussed and handled by <br /> Hawaii County Economic Development Specialist Jane Horike of the Research and <br /> Development Department in an accompanying presentation, as referenced in Communication <br /> No. 600. He noted that even with the resolution being passed by Your Committee on this day,the <br /> measure would still need to go through the governor's office for approval. He thanked Ms. <br /> Horike for attending the Committee meeting in person in Kona from her Hilo office, and urged <br /> his colleagues to support the measure. <br /> Committee Chair Ashley Kierkiewicz thanked Council Member Richards for looking out for his <br /> community and noted how beneficial the program was. She then called for the vote. <br /> GREDC Report No.2 <br />