HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP GREDC 002 2019/11/19 2018-2020 REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
DATE: November 19, 2019 Re: Comm. No. 601/Res. 400-19
PLACE: Council Chambers
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
TIME: 1:19 P.M.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Governmental Relations and Economic Development, to which was referred
Resolution No. 400-19, reports as follows:
Resolution No. 400-19, transmitted by Council Member Herbert M. "Tim" Richards, via
Communication No. 601 dated October 30, 2019, requests the nomination of the North Kohala
Enterprise Zone for Re-Designation by the Governor, as the District of North Kohala proved this
designation was economically beneficial. The State of Hawaii had previously designated the
District of North Kohala as an Enterprise Zone for a twenty-year period, set to expire in April
2020, pursuant to Chapter 209E, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and Chapter 6 of Title 15, Hawaii
Administrative Rules. Further, Section 31-1, Hawaii County Code 1983 (2016 edition, as
amended) states that the purpose of designating an area as an enterprise zone is to stimulate
business and industrial growth, as well as providing State incentives such as a seven-year
exemption from general excise taxes on gross proceeds from all business conducted within an
enterprise zone, and an eighty percent income tax abatement the first year.
Council Member Richards pointed out that the purpose and intent of Enterprise Zones, as well as
the aspects of the content of the Resolution No. 400-19, had just been discussed and handled by
Hawaii County Economic Development Specialist Jane Horike of the Research and
Development Department in an accompanying presentation, as referenced in Communication
No. 600. He noted that even with the resolution being passed by Your Committee on this day,the
measure would still need to go through the governor's office for approval. He thanked Ms.
Horike for attending the Committee meeting in person in Kona from her Hilo office, and urged
his colleagues to support the measure.
Committee Chair Ashley Kierkiewicz thanked Council Member Richards for looking out for his
community and noted how beneficial the program was. She then called for the vote.
GREDC Report No.2
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GREDC-2 Page 2 November 19,2019
Your Committee on Governmental Relations and Economic Development is in accord with the
purpose and intent of Resolution No. 400-19 and recommends it's adoption.
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AYES NOES ABS Ex Respectfully submitted,
CHUNG x
DAVID x COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL
EOFF x RELATIONS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
KANEALI`I- X
KLEINFELDER
KIERKIEWICZ x
LEE LOY X
POINDEXTER x ASHLEY L. KIERKIEWICZ, CHAIR
RICHARDS x GREDC REPORT NO.: 2
VILLEGAS x ADOPTED: DEC 4 __