City to Launch New $3 Million Agricultural Grant Program
HONOLULU – Utilizing funding from American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, the City and County of Honolulu is developing a new $3 million agricultural grant program for farmers, ranchers, and growers on Oʻahu. Originally proposed by Council Vice-Chair Esther Kiaʻāina as part of a broader effort to deploy federal funds to support local agriculture producers, the first phase of this program will award $1 million each year in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
“I am so excited for this new City program as it helps our farmers impacted by the pandemic, promotes food security, and advances economic diversification,” said Council Vice-Chair Kiaʻāina. “We must move beyond talking about the importance of agriculture and get our farmers and producers the necessary resources they need to increase agricultural production. I am proud of the City for partnering with our state and federal leaders in making agriculture a priority for the people of Hawaii.”
On March 22, 2021, Council Vice-Chair Kiaʻāina introduced Resolution 21-079, which urged the City Administration to establish and expend funds for a grant program to support local agriculture. She emphasized how agriculture has played a critical role throughout the history of Hawaiʻi and remains an essential component of the modern-day local economy, though it gets eclipsed by other industries. Resolution 21-079, CD1, FD1 was unanimously adopted by the Council on May 5, 2021.
“Growing more food locally is absolutely essential to strengthening our local economy,” said Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi. “These grants are vital to our strategy of creating precious sustainable jobs for our small farmers, ranchers, and growers and ensures the money stays in our local communities.”
Farmers, ranchers, and growers can start preparing to apply for grants by attending an online informational briefing on May 17 or 18 at 6 p.m. Briefings will be live-streamed on the Facebook page of the Office of Economic Revitalization: facebook.com/oer.honolulu.
Briefings will help growers understand the Hawaiʻi State tax clearances and other documents needed when applications are posted online later this year:
Attending a briefing is not required to apply for a grant.
To request translation or American Sign Language support for a webinar, contact oer@honolulu.gov or (808) 768-2330 at least 48 hours before the online event.
Community members can sign up at oahuaggrants.org to receive an email notification when grant applications are available.
The City’s Fiscal Recovery Funds community survey showed that the public supports strengthening Oʻahu’s food security with recovery funds. As one survey taker commented, “Food security and agriculture need to be prioritized…the pandemic should have shown us that our survival is threatened because Hawaiʻi is not self-sufficient.” Read the survey at oneoahu.org/frf.
About the Office of Economic Revitalization
The Office of Economic Revitalization (OER) works with individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and community partners to build an economy that is more balanced, innovative, and equitable. Connect with OER on social media: facebook.com/oer.honolulu.
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