Big Island shows HILO >> Gov. Ben Cayetano, in Hilo yesterday to hear proposals for boosting the state's economy in the wake of East Coast terrorism, heard a shopping list from local business and government leaders.
ideas to boost economy
Gov. Cayetano listened to
proposals in Hilo yesterdayBy Rod Thompson
rthompson@starbulletin.comMayor Harry Kim summarized the suggestions following the closed-door session.
>> Disagreements between the state and federal officials are holding up construction of the U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, worth $30 million to $50 million in construction funding, Kim said. The governor was urged to speed the process.
>> The county wants state land in Kona for a governmental center, Kim said. The governor was asked to speed the land transfer so the project can get under way.
>> In Hilo, the Hawaii Naniloa Resort has only 14 years left on its lease of state land. Extension of the lease to 55 years would pave the way for lenders to provide money for renovations, Kim said.
In general, business leaders are seeking more planning and consultation between themselves and the state to speed activity, he said.
In turn, the governor said he is looking at extending unemployment benefits past the 26-week limit, Kim said.
The governor also said he would look at speeding up pending state construction projects, especially in view of current low interest rates.
But Cayetano clarified an earlier report that a state prison near Hilo could be one of those projects. That would happen only if Big island people want it, he said.
The prison is not a priority, he said.
Besides comments in the meeting, others made additional suggestions, especially regarding agriculture.
Paula Helfrich of the Hawaii Island Economic Development Board said she met with Cayetano last week and proposed tax incentives for local agriculture.
In addition, the papaya industry could expand with the help of state marketing money, she said.
In a letter to Cayetano, Walker Sanders of the Hamakua-North Hilo Agricultural Cooperative, proposed filling vacant positions on the College of Agriculture faculty at the University of Hawaii at Hilo and increasing money for the state Agricultural Loan Division.
