(OCTOBER
1, 1998 - September 30, 2000)
Introduction.
Kaua`i's
economy has historically relied on two primary industries: agriculture and tourism. Over
the past twenty years, the prosperity from a rapidly growing visitor industry has more
than compensated for a weakening agricultural sector. Today, however, the visitor industry
can no longer off set the Island's continuing decline in sugar production. As a result,
there are fundamental changes taking place in Kaua`i's economy that are directly impacting
the daily lives of residents -- how they think, communicate, and work.
In
a recent series of community outreach meetings conducted as part of the County's General
Plan update process, meaningful employment opportunities and the future economic
sustainability of the Island reverberated as the overriding concerns of residents. The
community's hope and vision articulated in the General Plan (2000 to 2020) is that
"Kaua‘i’s economy is strong, stable, and diversified” - an economy in
which:
·
Balanced
economic growth provides good jobs and a strong economy without sacrificing our
environment and/or our quality of life;
·
Markets
for local products are expanded and imports are reduced, resulting in more money remaining
in the local economy;
·
More
jobs with higher wages are available, reflecting a variety of profitable businesses
seeking qualified employees; and
·
A
strong educational system prepares Kaua`i’s children, teens, college students, and
adults to work in this diversified economy.
Island
residents are clearly beginning to recognize and acknowledge that Kaua‘i’s
future is dependent on the community's collective ability to blend the Island's natural
environment, past traditions and culture, and the new ever changing technological
advancements of today, into a seamless, long-term economic strategy for the new
millennium.
Through
various collaborative multi-sector partnerships with local government, business, education
and community organizations, the RDP is developing The FARM, an educational training
complex consisting of a Small Business Management Academy (SBMA), and an Educational
Resource and Digital Media Center (DMC) aimed at operationalizing the community's vision
for “A Better Kaua‘i”. The FARM will promote innovative approaches for
doing business differently and encourage life long learning through a comprehensive array
of employment training and business support activities that showcase potential economic
initiatives that are well suited for the Island's unique environment and culture.
The
Vision.
In
partnership with Kaua‘i Community College, The Farm serves as a catalyst for the Community to
make significant contributions toward attaining the desired outcomes of its 2020 Vision
Statement. It is a place where the
"Future And Reality Meet" (FARM).
Envision
a working 40-acre agriculture training facility where knowledgeable student teams escort
visitors and residents on edu-tours of Hawaiian plants and tropical flowers, taro and
organic farming, alternate energy generation, community gardening, agro-forestry, and
production fields of fresh fruits and vegetables. Imagine
a student staffed Educational Resource Center that features a glimpse of island life
during sugar’s hey day and a gift shop that showcases unique products made at
Kaua‘i Community College and creatively packaged by students working with graphic
design. Next door at the Small Business
Management Academy, hope and excitement abounds as aspiring entrepreneurs eagerly gather
outside to attend their first business training workshop while inside, professional staff
members are busy working with existing businesses that are planning to expand their
operations.
There
is tremendous potential for continued expansion and growth as the College faculty,
students, business people, residents, and tourists are all constantly encouraged to
recommend new ideas that will facilitate and support improvements to the:
·
"Real
life" employment training programs focused
on providing a technically competent and skilled workforce that meet the current and
future needs of employers;
·
Educational
Resource and Digital Media Center
a business library and multi-media graphic design and audio recording studio;
·
Gift
Shop and Kiosk(s)
stocked with locally made craft products and filled with fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers
and plants grown on-site and food items made at Kaua‘i Community College;
·
Small
Business Management Academy
that provides technical assistance and training for start-up and existing businesses, a
resource library and informational database, and strategies to promote products and
services throughout the Island of Kaua‘i; and
·
Archeological
Archival Center
that will properly archive and preserve data and excavated materials and museum featuring
the old Puhi Plantation Camp.
 |
WIA participants receive job training in carpentry
skills at the Farm (2000).
 |
Participants receive job training and develop work
skills at JTPA Gateway Work Experience Program (2000).
| Kapaa High School students learn plant propagation at Make A Difference Day 1999). |  |
 |
Summer Youth program participants study in an outdoor
classroom setting (1999).
Project
Description.
The
Farm
is a collaborative project that will eventually be managed by the Kaua‘i Business
Assistance Corporation (KBAC) in partnership with Kaua‘i Community College (KCC), the
Rural Development Project (RDP) and Small Business Development Center (SBDC). It is centrally located on the Island of
Kaua‘i, adjacent to the KCC campus in Puhi and encompasses a land area approximately
40 acres in size.
The
Farm's
primary objectives are to serve as a training, business, and economic development resource
that emulates "real-life" situations as a means of providing employment training
and business services to participants. It
will be the only facility of its kind on the island that will concurrently provide
effective and meaningful services to improve the skills of both employees and employers as
well as promote existing island businesses. The
program offerings will be developed collaboratively and be drawn from the expertise and
resources of the organizational partners, businesses, and community at large.
The
Farm
is currently in its initial development phase and is operational 5-days a week, excluding
holidays. Beginning 2002, guided edu-tours of
the grounds are anticipated to commence on a trial "invitation only" basis and
the buildings will be opened for limited business. In
2003, The Farm
will be fully opened to the public 6 days a week (Monday through Saturday) from the hours
of 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. All of its
components will be staffed for full operation and actively promoted throughout the island.
Although
The Farm
is a not-for-profit enterprise, it must become financially self-supporting and thus
requires that it operate as a "real" business.
A fee will be charged for the eco-tours and unique locally made craft
products will be sold on consignment at the Educational Center's gift shop. Food items prepared at KCC and fresh produce and
plants grown on-site will be available for purchase at the kiosk(s). Training workshops, business assistance, and
promotional events will be initiated on a fee basis. Operational
revenues will also be derived from grant solicitation, tax deductible contributions,
community fundraising activities, and rental of various facilities and equipment.
The
Farm's
operation is primarily focused on employment and business training. To keep labor cost a minimum, students will make
up the primary workforce and be allowed to earn educational course credits as part of
their work experience training. Local businesses will be invited to visit to evaluate the
competence of participants for prospective employment as well as discuss opportunities for
upgrading the skills of their incumbent workers. In
addition, community members and organizations will be encouraged to voluntarily assist in
the upkeep of jointly initiated projects and meet student participants. Likewise, aspiring entrepreneurs will also be
encouraged to utilize the informational resources and support services available at The Farm
that could also include customized training sessions that prepare individuals to assume
positions within their proposed start-up ventures.
Given its visionary focus and collaborative partnership commitments, The Farm has all of the necessary ingredients for long-term financial viability and success to provide "real world" training and education that showcases the past, demonstrates the present, and most important, the provides insight about the future potential of our island community.
(Proposed Farm Long Range Master Plan)
Kauai RDP Home Page - The Farm - Slide Show - Community Advisory Committee - About KCC - RDP Home
Last Revision:
Wednesday, February 05, 2003 12:29 AM