Notice of Public Hearing
Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism
High Technology Development Corporation
Proposed Administrative Rules
Relating to the Hawaii Small Business Innovation Research Grant Program
and
the Hawaii Manufacturing Development Program
and
the Alternative Energy Research and Development Program
Pursuant to Chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the High Technology Development Corporation (HTDC), Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, will hold public hearings on the following:
(1) Proposed amendments to Chapter 15-32, Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR), relating to the “Hawaii Small Business Innovation Research Grant Program”, and
(2) New proposed Chapter 15-33, HAR, relating to the “Hawaii Manufacturing Development Program”, and
(3) New proposed Chapter 15-34, HAR, relating to the “Alternative Energy Research and Development Program.”
Summary of the proposed rules:
(1) Proposed amendments to Chapter 15-32, “Hawaii Small Business Innovation Research Grant Program” implementing Act 216, Session Laws of Hawaii (SLH) 2015:
a. Expand eligibility for Hawaii Small Business Innovation Research grants to phase II and III federal awardees.
b. Specify grants may not be used to pay for goods or services for which moneys were granted under the Manufacturing Development Program or the Alternative Energy Research and Development Program.
c. Require that if selected for a federal phase III award, awardee will maintain its principal place of business and conduct a substantial portion of its operations in the State.
d. Clarify the application review process.
e. Amend the preferences and priorities for making awards.
f. Modify the award ceiling amount.
g. Require awardees to complete surveys to measure impact of the grants.
h. Require awardees to acknowledge HTDC in their informational materials.
(2) Proposed new rules, Chapter 15-33, “Hawaii Manufacturing Development Program” implementing Act 215, SLH 2015, including the purpose of the program grants, eligibility requirements, application procedure, consideration and review of applications, preferences and priorities in making the grants, inspection of awardees’ premises and records, completion of surveys to measure impact of the grants, and acknowledgment of HTDC in awardees’ informational materials.
(3) Proposed new rules, Chapter 15-34, “Alternative Energy Research and Development Program” implementing Act 159, SLH 2015, including the purpose of the program grants, eligibility requirements, application procedure, consideration and review of applications, preferences and priorities in making the grants, maximum grant amounts, inspection of awardees’ premises and records, completion of surveys to measure impact of the grants, and acknowledgment of HTDC in awardees’ informational materials.
On Oahu: An informational session will begin at 4:00 pm followed by the hearings on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 at the Manoa Innovation Center, Room #160, 2800 Woodlawn Drive, Honolulu, HI 96822
On Neighbor Islands: Hearings will be live streamed at the following location sites:
Maui: Maui Research and Technology Center
590 Lipoa Parkway, Suite 110, Kihei, HI 96753
Kauai: Small Business Development Center
2970 Kele Street, Suite 101, Lihu’e, HI 96766
Hilo: Small Business Development Center
100 Pauahi Street, Suite 109, Hilo, HI 96720
Kona: Small Business Development Center
75-5722 Kuakini Highway, Suite 209, Kailua Kona, HI 96740
All interested persons may attend the public hearings or a live streaming site to provide testimony on the proposed rules orally or in writing. Persons may submit written testimony by email to: testimony@htdc.org, or by mail to: HTDC, Hawaii Grant Rules, 2800 Woodlawn Drive #100, Honolulu, HI 96822. Written testimony must be received by 4:00 pm on January 4, 2016.
The proposed rules are available online at www.dbedt.hawaii.gov. The rules may also be viewed during business hours Monday Friday, 8 am 4 pm, at HTDC, 2800 Woodlawn Drive, #100, Honolulu, HI 96822. Interested persons may also make written request for a mailed copy by indicating mailing address in correspondence sent to the HTDC address above. Cost is $5 which includes copying and postage.
Any person requiring a special accommodation (i.e. large print materials, sign language interpreters) should make a request by emailing testimony@htdc.org or writing to the HTDC address above or by calling 539-3794. The request must be received at least 7 days before the hearing date.
Robbie Melton, HTDC Executive Director & CEO
CONTACT PERSON: Sandra Park PHONE: 539-3794
HIGH TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
(WHT822853 12/3/15)~
