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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.C.R. NO. |
312 |
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TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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HOUSE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
URGING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO EXTEND ITS LAND LEASE WITH THE HIGH TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE THE MANOA INNOVATION CENTER.
WHEREAS, a strong diversified economy is essential to the well-being of the population of Hawaii; and
WHEREAS, state policies should be aligned to encourage employment within the commercial high technology industry sector in order for the State to remain productive and withstand the changes and challenges of the twenty‑first century economy; and
WHEREAS, education and innovation infrastructure are key to sustaining and growing Hawaii's commercial high technology industry sector; and
WHEREAS, the High Technology Development Corporation is a state agency that was established by the Legislature in 1983 to facilitate the development and growth of Hawaii's commercial high technology industry sector; and
WHEREAS, the High Technology Development Corporation developed the Manoa Innovation Center, the first and only innovation and incubation facility on Oahu that offers an array of client services, facilities, and equipment to assist new and early stage technology companies; and
WHEREAS, the Manoa Innovation Center has incubated and graduated over a hundred companies, more than eighty per cent of which have become successful technology companies in the private sector, including Digital Island, Blue Lava Wireless, and Hoku Scientific; and
WHEREAS, the Manoa Innovation Center was built with state funds on public lands that were subsequently transferred to the University of Hawaii; and
WHEREAS, since its second year of operation, the High Technology Development Corporation has operated the Manoa Innovation Center without the benefit of general funds and relies solely on receipts and capital improvement program funds to operate its statewide programs; and
WHEREAS, the High Technology Development Corporation's current land lease with the University of Hawaii expires in 2015; and
WHEREAS, if the land lease is not extended, the State will lose the Manoa Innovation Center, a technology infrastructure and economic development engine that is difficult to replace; and
WHEREAS, an alternative site for the Manoa Innovation Center is unfeasible because the success of the center is due in large part to its close-proximity to the University of Hawaii Manoa campus and its research activities and student interns; and
WHEREAS, in addition, high costs and changes in federal law limiting the use of state capital improvement program funds for projects involving private activity inhibit the construction of a similar facility today; and
WHEREAS, even if state funding was available, the development of a new facility would take a minimum of four years or more; and
WHEREAS, the University of Hawaii should extend its land lease with the High Technology Development Corporation to provide the High Technology Development Corporation with sufficient time to make alternate arrangements for the Manoa Innovation Center; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, the Senate concurring, that the University of Hawaii is urged to extend its current land lease agreement with the High Technology Development Corporation, located on 2800 Woodlawn Drive, Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, identified as Tax Map Key 2-9-26: Por. 3, 37, and 38, for five years in order to find and replace or develop and construct a new facility in Manoa to continue the High Technology Development Corporation's current operations at the Manoa Innovation Center; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chair of the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii and the Chair of the Board of Directors of the High Technology Development Corporation.
High Technology Development Corporation; Land Lease