Big Island News: Big Island to Receive 400 million dollars as Part of the Governors New Economic Stimulus Plan
For Immediate Release: December 15, 2008 HONOLULU Governor Linda Lingle, mayors, legislators, construction industry executives and labor leaders today unveiled a sweeping plan to implement $1,865,522,037 in public infrastructure improvement projects statewide as part of a comprehensive effort to stimulate the economy and create jobs. Through a collaborative effort that includes the counties, construction industry organizations, and labor unions, this plan focuses on 1,521 projects statewide which have been already budgeted and approved by the Legislature and are ready to start construction within the next 18 months. Investing in capital improvement projects (CIP) and the modernization of Hawai'i's infrastructure is a major part of the Governor's five-point action plan to stimulate the economy. Other components of the five-point plan include increasing tourism marketing and outreach; lowering business fees and providing tax relief; attracting private investment, especially in renewable energy technology; and maximizing federal dollars and partnerships. To keep the public informed of the progress of the various projects, all 1,521 projects are posted on the Governor's website (www.hawaii.gov/cip). The projects can be viewed four different ways: by island, department, estimated start date and projected construction costs. The public will be able to track the status of individual projects, including when a project is going out to bid, when the contract will be awarded, what permits are still required, and if additional action is needed by a specific government agency: state, county or federal : to move the project forward. "By putting the projects online and updating the public on their status in a timely manner, we are keeping the pressure on ourselves to ensure the projects keep moving," said Governor Linda Lingle. "The public will be able to pinpoint what stage the project is in, and if there are bottlenecks such as permit delays, they will know exactly who to contact and who to hold accountable." Over the past several weeks, a "strike force" team comprised of key members of the Governor's cabinet has worked to identify state projects that can be accelerated and moved into the construction phase in the next 18 months. The team focused on all state departments that have projects planned, including Accounting and General Services; Agriculture; Business, Economic Development and Tourism; Defense; Education; Hawaiian Home Lands; Human Services; Land and Natural Resources; Public Safety; Transportation and the University of Hawai'i. The CIP projects identified by the Administration span all six major islands, including $1,002,675,910 (803 projects) for O'ahu; $406,713,790 (327 projects) for Hawai'i; $259,836,677 (217 projects) for Maui; $143,850,497 (111 projects) for Kaua'i; $25,963,460 (35 projects) for Moloka'i; and $9,283,714 (18 projects) for Lana'i. In addition, there are 10 statewide projects that total $17,197,989. The CIP projects build on the progress of the state's $2.3 billion Airports Modernization Plan and the $618 million Harbors Modernization Plan, and also include highway improvements; repairs, maintenance and new construction at public school, university, and community college campuses statewide; public library upgrades and repairs; small boat harbor upgrades and expansion; affordable housing and Hawaiian Homes construction; public housing facility repairs and renovations; hospital and health care facility improvements; correctional facility renovations; agricultural irrigation improvements; hurricane shelter retrofits; state park improvements; state building repairs and improvements and energy efficiency projects. The Administration's focus on increasing public construction activity comes as private building permits have seen an 8.8 percent decrease to $240 million in the first nine months of 2008, and the number of permits for residential housing units statewide have decreased by 30.6 percent to 3,937 units. During the same period government (federal, state and county) contracts awarded also decreased by $72.2 million or 9.6 percent. The decreases in private construction permits and government contracts were partially offset by ongoing military housing initiatives. State capital improvement project expenditures were up $362 million or 44 percent for the first nine months of 2008. The following are examples of specific projects on the Big Island (a complete list can be found at www.hawaii.gov/cip): Hawai'i $406,713,790 (327 projects) Kona Airport Parking Lot Expansion Phase III (estimated cost: $7,105,000; estimated construction start: January 2009) Construction of Inter-Island Cargo Terminal Facility at Hilo Harbor - Dredging (estimated cost: $20,000,000; estimated construction start: March 2009) Keaukaha Military Reservation Joint Military Center, Phase I (estimated cost: $50,768,000; estimated construction start: May 2009) University of Hawai'i - Hilo, Student Services Building Addition and Renovation (estimated cost: $21,700,000; estimated construction start: June 2009) Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway Widening, Phase II (estimated cost: $77,199,999; estimated construction start: September 2009) Laiopua Village 5, House Construction, 50 to 100 Homes, Developer Financed for DHHL (estimated cost: $17,000,000; estimated construction start: November 2009) For more information, contact: Lenny Klompus Senior Advisor – Communications Phone: (808) 586-7708 Russell Pang Chief of Media Relations Phone: (808) 586-0043 Russ Saito Comptroller, DAGS Phone: (808) 586-0400 Brennon Morioka Director, DOT Phone: (808) 587-2150 Micah Kane Chair, DHHL Phone: (808) 620-9501 Document Actions |
