HB 2271 Summary

• Establishes a grant program administered by the Agribusiness Development Corporation to provide financial support for agriculture-related improvements to existing and emerging farms and agribusiness operations.

• Requires grant applicants to submit information including organization name, public purpose, target group, and project budget, along with documentation of project costs.

• Applicants must comply with federal and state anti-discrimination laws, obtain applicable licenses and permits, maintain insurance, and indemnify the State of Hawaii from claims arising from grant-funded activities.

• Eligible projects include agriculture-related improvements on existing farms, modernization or expansion plans, equipment modification or replacement, market or product development, and agricultural advisory, training, and technical assistance services.

• Grant recipients must submit quarterly expenditure reports to the corporation, with funds disbursed within 90 days of approval; maximum grant amount per qualified person per year is to be determined.