STAND. COM. REP. NO.  894

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 521

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 521, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to stimulate and diversify Hawaii's economy by establishing and funding the High-growth Grant Program and Special Fund to provide grants to qualified businesses to expand business operations, improve business productivity, and invest in food safety or quality control programs.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 142, The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, High Technology Development Corporation, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Maui Chamber of Commerce supported this measure.  The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism and Department of Budget and Finance offered comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 521, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair