MEDIA RELEASE

The Governor’s West Hawaii Community Advisory Council meets Thursday, Jan. 15 at the NELHA Gateway Center, Kailua-Kona. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m.

With the economy a top concern for families and businesses across West Hawaii, Lt. Gov. James R. “Duke” Aiona, Jr. will discuss the implementation of the Lingle-Aiona Administration’s comprehensive, five-point action plan to stimulate the economy and create jobs.

The plan’s key components include increasing tourism marketing and outreach, investing in improvements to state infrastructure and facilities, lowering business fees and providing tax relief, attracting private investment especially in energy and maximizing federal partnerships and funding.

As part of the effort to invest in public infrastructure improvements, the administration is working with the counties, as well as the construction industry, labor unions and the nonprofit sector to implement a $1.8 billion capital improvement plan that focuses on 1,521 state projects that have been budgeted and approved by the Legislature and are ready to start construction within the next 18 months.

The projects span all six islands and include 327 projects on the Big Island totaling $406,713,790. The projects and their status can be viewed on the Governor’s Web site at www.hawaii.gov/cip.

Members of the Governor’s West Hawaii Community Advisory Council are Rick Vidgen, Estela Halverson, Lei Kihoi, Glennon Gingo, Dale Fergerstrom and Elaine Watai from Kona; Doug Carr from Waikoloa; Joanne Ralston from Kapaau; and Beverly Byouk from Ocean View.

Anyone requiring special assistance or accommodations to participate at this meeting may call 327-4953.