STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2975

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 2174

       H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 2174, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Establish the high-growth grant program in the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to assist qualified businesses by providing grants for specific business development purposes;

 

     (2)  Establish the high-growth grant program special fund; and

 

     (3)  Appropriate funds to the high-growth grant program special fund to implement the high-growth grant program.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii; Maui Gold Pineapple Company; Hawaii Farm Bureau; and one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that a high-growth grant program will help businesses in Hawaii further develop by expanding their business operations, improving the quality and efficiency of their operations, and staying updated with safety and quality control programs.  This grant program will support businesses by assisting in purchasing equipment, conducting management and workforce training, improving infrastructure, and conducting consulting or feasibility studies.  Your Committee believes that the high-growth grant program will expand businesses in Hawaii to compete with mainland counterparts and spur economic development in Hawaii.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2174, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology,

 

 

 

________________________________

GLENN WAKAI, Chair