HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-3 Report to AC on Commercial KitchenCommunication No. 2014 -3
Report to PCDP - AC on
Pahoa Community Certified Kitchen Project
References within the PCDP:
"Managing Growth, 3.2 Agriculture and Economic Development, p. 3 -7:
With the transition in recent decades from plantation -based agriculture to smaller - scale,
diversified agricultural operations, Puna faces several challenges. Below are those that the
Puna Community Development Plan attempts to address in some way:
"Small- scale, independent operations face several ... challenges: (1) finding efficient, cost -
effective ways to get products to market, whether for export or local consumption; (2)
acquiring and maintaining specialized equipment, facilities, and other infrastructure; (3)
providing security to prevent pilferage of products; (4) securing labor assistance at the times
when needed.
"3.2.1 Goals
c. Opportunities for diversified agriculture increase.
e. Puna's agricultural products represent an increasing local market share.
f. There are more agriculture - related employment training and local job opportunities
for youth.
g. Local job growth is primarily in "green" industries such as agriculture...
"3.2.2 Objectives
g. Form partnerships with local businesses and educational institutions to advane
education and training in..."
- 'Green' sector, include agriculture...
j. Provide infrastructure support for youth education and job training in the
agricultural sectors.
I. Create new "green" employment opportunities in the agricultural ... in Puna.
"3.2.3 Actions
i. Develop business incubator districts in ... Pahoa ... where small businesses can, for a
start -up period of two to three years, occupy spaces at subsidized rent, share receptionist and
other common support services and facilities, and have access to business mentoring,
marketing skills training, and product promotion programs.
The Pahoa Community Certified Kitchen Project:
The non - profit Malama O Puna (MOP) is partnering with the local business Pahoa Feed &
Fertilizer (PF &F) to create a community certified kitchen that would be available to local
farmers looking to develop and market value -added products, food producer entrepreneurs,
local families preparing for major events (such as first birthday luaus), local nonprofits seeking a
venue to prepare food for fundraising events, and a site for large -scale food preparation in the
event of a natural or man -made disaster requiring evacuation of residents. It is hoped that an
additional benefit of this project will be to protect agricultural lands by making farming more
economically viable.
PF &F already owns the land and has plans to convert a single family residence into a
community certified kitchen with affordable rates. MOP has acted in an advisory capacity, has
written grant proposals, and will be assisting in developing the kitchen. A sidebar of the facility
will be educating kitchen users about food safety and certified kitchen protocols, options for
bulk purchasing, marketing and merchandising, and other support services as mentioned in the
PCDP.
PF &F had the project approved by the Windward Planning Commission as a bona fide
agricultural use that conforms to its agricultural zoning, and they also paid for a drainage study.
We previously received grant funding from County R & D which paid for electrical, plumbing,
architectural and ventilation plans so that the structure could be renovated to the kitchen use.
Recently we applied for two grants: from R &D we applied for $7,242 from the "Targeted
Funding for Value -Added Facilities that Promote Agricultural Products Grown on Hawaii Island ".
This would pay for the Architect's stamp, the necessary permits from the Planning Dept. and
the Health Dept., and development of a website that would, initially, share our vision and
outreach to interested parties, and, later, help with marketing of the products made in the
kitchen. The second grant proposal is to the County Non - Profits grants which, among other
things, support economic development. We are asking for $24,250 to implement the
infrastructure requirements of the Environmental Health Branch, i.e., the actual renovation
work of electrical, plumbing, septic, ventilation and re- flooring. If both grants are awarded, the
kitchen could be up and running within a year.
I have been attending meetings with Dean Bruce Matthews of the UH School of Agriculture
whose focus has been on encouraging greater agricultural production and processing of foods
for local markets. At these meetings the lack of available certified kitchens in the Puna District
surfaced as one of the biggest obstacles to creating more value -added products for local
markets. The School of Agriculture and CTAHR are willing to work with us to help encourage
entrepreneurial activity in the Pahoa area. Sen. Russell Ruderman was also in attendance and is
working on the legislative level for ways to provide more food sustainability in our area. The
mayor's representative, Jeff Melrose, who is also one of the people in R &D who will probably
be reviewing our grant proposal, attended these meetings and is thus aware of the need and
our actions to address those needs.
A letter from the Action Committee to R &D and the County Council grants committees in
support of our project would be helpful.
Mahalo,
Rene Siracusa