County Awards First Round of Small Town Planning Grants

By Staff Reports

(Maui) – The Planning Department has announced several awards for its new “small town planning” grant program and has set the deadlines for the next rounds of awards.

Four projects will receive funding in this first round of awards:

• Makawao Town Improvements – an estimated $22,000 will fund the purchase of benches, trash and recycling receptacles, gateway landscaping and gateway signs. Co-applicants: Makawao Community Association and the Makawao Merchants’ Association.
• Lahaina Second Fridays – an estimated $5,000 will be used to secure block closures for several upcoming Second Friday parties; if these closures are successful, then private sources will fund them for future events. Applicant: Lahaina Town Action Committee.
• Experience Historic Lahaina – an estimated $18,000 will fund this weekend event to commemorate the completion of two community-based planning projects – the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Museum and Orientation Center at the Old Lahaina Courthouse and the IMAGINE waterfront project. Applicant: Lahaina Restoration Foundation.
• Kou Land Use Plan and Design – an estimated $22,000 will be used for two planning and design workshops for the Waiehu-Waihee community that will result in a conceptual land use plan and rendering for active recreational uses including trails, bike paths, community garden, gathering place and community pavilion. The applicant is the Waiehu Kou Phase 3 Association.

“Maui County is dedicated to preserving our island’s heritage, one small town at a time,” said Mayor Alan Arakawa. “These are good projects for our communities and I am sure there will be more to come in the future.”

A total of $243,000 was budgeted for Fiscal Year 2013 for the Department to issue grants for projects that would provide direct benefits to one of Maui County’s small towns. These towns are identified as Haiku, Hana, Kaunakakai, Keokea-Waiakoa, Lahaina, Lanai City, Makawao, Paia, Waihee, Waikapu and Wailuku. The Department has requested proposals in the range of $22,000 each to offer each town an equal chance at awards.

The following towns are eligible for second-round awards, because they did not receive awards in the first round: Haiku, Hana, Kaunakakai, Keokea-Waiakoa, Lanai City, Paia, Waikapu and Wailuku. The deadline for second-round applications is Thursday, March 14, 2013. Second-round awards will be announced soon thereafter. If any funding remains after the second-round awards, a third round will be open to any eligible town.

According to the RFP, projects have to meet several criteria: direct benefit to the town, collaboration and community engagement, accountability of the applicant, project “ripeness,” proposed budget, manageable term and scope, and outreach.

The RFP and application form are available through the County’s website at www.mauicounty.gov/planning; under Hot Topics, select Small Town Planning Grants. Planning Department staff are also available to give presentations to interested community groups. For more information, contact the Planning Department at 270-7735.