Applications open for initial Hawaiʻi Green Fee funding opportunities

Community organizations, nonprofits, Native Hawaiian organizations, conservation groups and other eligible entities are encouraged to apply for funding through the State of Hawaiʻi’s initial Green Fee Requests for Proposals.

This call for proposals marks a major milestone in implementing Act 96 and investing in projects that protect and restore Hawaiʻi’s natural and cultural resources, according to a joint news release from Care for ʻĀina Now Coalition and Hawaiʻi Green Growth.

The Green Fee establishes a dedicated source of funding for environmental stewardship, climate resilience, hazard mitigation and sustainable tourism initiatives statewide. Approximately $129 million has been appropriated through the state budget to support projects that help care for Hawaiʻi’s lands, waters and communities.

“The Green Fee is a transformational investment in Hawaiʻi’s future,” said Kalani Kaʻanāʻanā, chief executive officer of Hawaiʻi Green Growth, adding the program is an opportunity to invest in the people and organizations already doing the important work of caring for Hawaiʻi’s communities and natural resources.

Hawaiʻi Green Growth, the Care for ʻĀina Now Coalition and partners recently launched a statewide Readiness Workshop Series intended to support community-based organizations and nonprofits interested in submitting a proposal.

The workshops are designed to help organizations understand the application process, technical requirements, compliance obligations and best practices for preparing competitive proposals. The series includes virtual and county-based workshops intended to build long-term community capacity and help organizations of all sizes successfully compete for Green Fee funding.

An upcoming workshop on Hawai‘i Island is scheduled for Aug. 7 at the Hawaiʻi Aging and Disability Resource Center, 1055 Kinoole St #101, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. The workshop is in partnership with the County of Hawaiʻi Office of Sustainability, Climate, Equity and Resilience.

Workshop dates, times and locations are subject to change. For information about the initial Green Fee workshops, funding opportunities, eligibility requirements, application deadlines and the latest workshop updates, visit www.hawaiigreengrowth.org/green-fee-workshops.

The initial request for proposals represents the first phase of Green Fee funding opportunities. While many Green Fee opportunities are expected to be issued through these proposals, administering state departments and offices may elect to use other procurement methods, such as Invitations for Bids, where appropriate.

Eligible organizations are encouraged to monitor upcoming solicitations posted on the Hawaiʻi Awards and Notices Data System (HANDS), carefully review the requirements for each opportunity and submit competitive responses that align with the applicable program objectives.

To help organizations identify and track available Green Fee funding opportunities, Hawaiʻi Green Growth has created a Green Fee RFP Tracker. The tracker provides a centralized resource for organizations interested in the RFP opportunities released by the state departments and offices responsible for administering Green Fee programs. Organizations should also monitor HANDS for other Green Fee-related solicitations that may be issued through different procurement methods.

Organizations interested in applying are encouraged to review the materials for each RFP, begin developing partnerships where appropriate and submit their applications by the respective published deadlines. Organizations should also continue monitoring for additional Green Fee funding opportunities as they become available.