HONOLULU — Nonprofit organizations, the private sector and government have joined together to launch a program using federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Econimic Security Act funding that will support Hawai‘i’s economy by providing businesses with up to 650 workers who have been displaced in the current economic crisis.
The economic-stimulus program is supported by $10 million in federal CARES Act funding that was secured with the help of Hawai‘i’s congressional delegation and disbursed locally through an appropriation by the state Legislature.
“We are grateful to all those who helped Hawai‘i obtain these federal funds and build an innovative program that supports our local businesses and keeps Hawai‘i residents employed,” said Gov. David Ige.
“This is a great example of how we can pull together during difficult times and rise to the challenges facing our economy from the pandemic.”
The state Department of Business, Economic Development &Tourism worked with all the partners to pull the program together. DBEDT contracted with Kupu, a conservation and youth-education nonprofit, and Economic Development Alliance of Hawaiʻi, an economic-development nonprofit, to implement this workforce-development initiative.
There will be two tracks to this program: “Kupu ‘Aina Corps,” run by Kupu, and “Aloha Connects Innovation,” run by EDAH.
The programs will match displaced workers with companies in emerging industries and Aloha+ Challenge sectors such as conservation, renewable energy, agriculture, creative arts, aerospace, entrepreneurship and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields.
The Aloha+ Challenge is a statewide commitment to achieve Hawai‘i’s sustainability goals, and locally driven framework to implement the United Nations sustainable development goals.
The initiative, originally envisioned by Omar Sultan of Sultan Ventures, aims to diversify and strengthen Hawai‘i’s economy by building a scalable workforce to support the growth of emerging and resilient non-tourism industries.
The program will create internship opportunities to provide temporary employment required due to economic injury caused by COVID-19-related business closures, while meaningfully diversifying and strengthening Hawai‘i’s economy.
“We are excited to create some options for those who are currently unemployed and want to seek a different career path,” said Kupu CEO John Leong.
“These positions will provide on-the-job experience, health care and relevant educational or training opportunities for upward mobility beyond the first phase. The skills learned here will be essential tools for a resilient Hawai‘i.”
The programs’ positions will offer:
w Two and a hal to three months of on-the-job training (to Dec. 15);
w Wages starting from $13 to $15 an hour;
w Health-care benefits;
w Introduction and mentoring within the emerging, innovation sectors;
w Workforce training.
Ideally, after the on-the-job training, individuals will be hired at the sites they are placed at or within the network of their organization, pursue careers in the emerging, innovation sector, or continue with higher education.
Eligible participants include displaced workers and recent high school or college graduates.
Due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19, many tourism-related jobs will likely not be available through 2020. Hawai‘i’s heavy reliance on tourism means that the local economy will lag behind the national pace of the recovery process, according to DBEDT’s Research and Economic Analysis Division.
“This program proactively and intentionally supports companies while providing job opportunities that are not tourism-dependent,” said Rich Wacker, president and CEO of American Savings Bank who, along with other members of the Hawai‘i Business Roundtable, saw the need for such an initiative.
EDAH Chair Jeanne Skog added, “These emerging industries represent the future of economic growth for Hawai‘i. This program will provide displaced workers and recent graduates with opportunities to do critical work for our state, diversify their skillset and provide organizations and companies a resource for revival. This program provides an opportunity for faster recovery, and allows us to create a more diverse and resilient economy.”
Interested participant applicants and companies interested in hosting participants can apply for the innovation track through the EDAH website, edahawaii.org/, and the conservation track through Kupu’s website, kupuhawaii.org/ainainnovation/.
