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Hawaii Supplemental Budget Request Expands Funding for Innovation Initiatives
Building on a successful legislative session in 2007, Gov. Lingle is requesting additional funds to supplement various ongoing TBED programs.
Seeking to continue a pilot program approved by lawmakers last year, Gov. Lingle is requesting $2 million for a second year for the Hawaii Excellence through Science and Technology Academy Program and Robotics Programs within the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (see the May 14, 2007 issue of the Digest).
Under the Strategic Industries Division (SID), Gov. Lingle is requesting one-time funding of $700,000 to establish a Bioenergy Program. The funding would be used to complete the statewide master plan for the program. Annual recurring funding would be necessary to continue operations, the budget documents note. To conduct the expanded responsibilities of the science and technology branch related to the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education priorities of the Governor’s Innovation Initiative, an additional $50,000 is requested within SID. The renamed Office of Aerospace Development would receive $235,000 to support a comprehensive assessment of the state’s aerospace potential and opportunities for expanding or diversifying aerospace initiatives.
Hawaii's High Tech Development Corporation (HTDC) would receive $200,000 under the governor's recommendation to expand the Hawaii Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) assistance programs. The increase would provide additional state funds to match the increasing number and larger amounts of federal SBIR awards and would allow HTDC to develop and fund the STTR program. An additional $100,000 is requested to provide Hawaii firms with training workshops and one-on-one grant proposal writing assistance under the Governor's Innovation Initiative.
To implement the Hawaii Renewable Hydrogen Program – a key component of the Governor’s Energy for Tomorrow Package – the governor is requesting $5.9 million from the Hydrogen Investment Capital Special Fund.
Gov. Lingle’s Executive Supplemental Budget for FY 2007-09 is available at: http://www.hawaii.gov/budget/memos/supplementalbudget/