STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 465
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2023
RE: H.B. No. 991
H.D. 1
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2023
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Economic Development, to which was referred H.B. No. 991 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to:
(1) Increase the per-grant cap for awards to assist businesses applying for the Small Business Innovation Research Grant Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer Grant Program; and
(2) Adds the purchasing of renewable energy systems as an eligible expense, and clarifies that training on both new and existing manufacturing equipment is an eligible expense, for the Manufacturing Development Grant Program.
Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation aims to encourage and assist new applicants to compete for available federal Small Business Innovation Research Grant Program and Small Business Technology Transfer Grant Program funds. Businesses applying for these federal grants may be awarded up to $3,000 for grant writing assistance to increase their chance of success in being awarded the grants. However, because of increased costs, the $3,000 maximum amount is no longer sufficient. Increasing the maximum amount of funds that a business may be awarded for grant writing assistance will encourage more businesses to pursue federal grant funds.
Your Committee also finds that clarifying that training on both new and existing manufacturing equipment is an eligible expense for the Manufacturing Development Grant Program will increase workforce productivity and wages. Additionally, adding the purchasing of renewable energy systems as an eligible expense for the Manufacturing Development Grant Program will help manufacturers offset high energy costs in the State.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Changing the per-grant cap for awards to an unspecified amount; and
(2) Changing its effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion.
Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider $6,000 as the per-grant cap for awards to a business.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 991, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 991, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development,
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____________________________ DANIEL HOLT, Chair |
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