HB 690 Summary

• Establishes the Hawaii Agricultural Investment Program within the Agribusiness Development Corporation to provide matching grants supporting local agricultural producers and reducing food import dependency.

• Authorizes grants for acquiring/improving property, irrigation systems, equipment, technology, workforce development, agricultural research, product marketing, food safety training, and other activities reducing food imports.

• Requires grantees to comply with all applicable federal and state laws, use funds exclusively for program purposes, maintain records for corporation oversight, and provide indemnification to the State.

• Mandates annual legislative reports including accounting of expenditures, targeted markets, beneficiary descriptions, measurable objectives, and assessment of socially disadvantaged farmers served.

• Appropriates unspecified sums for fiscal years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 for program operations and 2.0 FTE positions to manage grant procurement, contracting, and accounting oversight.