The Hawaii Public Housing Authority (HPHA), in accordance with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations, Hawaii Administrative Rules Chapter 17-2028, and the HPHA’s Federal Public Housing Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP), will open waiting lists for low-income applicants with a preference for the federal public housing program on Oahu. Each geographic waiting list described below will be open for 5 days. Eligibility: Involuntarily Displaced, Victim of Domestic Violence, Homeless person.

The goal of the Kaua`i Ag Internship program is to offer paid Ag Internships to local high school and college students to inspire and mentor potential future farmers. In addition to receiving a paycheck, students also receive a recommendation letter and internship evaluation for their future career portfolio.

Are you interested in starting or enhancing your agri-tourism business? The Hawaii AgriBusiness Guidebook: Starting an Agri-Tourism Operation can help you get started! The guidebook was designed to provide aspiring agri-tourism businesses an overview of essential training information, as well as share helpful tips for farmers.

The Business and Constituent Educator team works 1-on-1 with local businesses to connect them with government and private sector resources and help them build a path to success. To schedule a conversation, call 768-CITY or email backonthewave@honolulu.gov.

Interested in applying for a grant but don't know where to start?  This guide, created by Powered by Plenty, provides a brief overview of the grant search and application process, made specifically for farmers!

GoFish Hawaii held a workshop series on how to integrate a small scale aquaponics system into a farm operation. Recordings and resources from the workshop series can be found here.

Edible Hawaiian Islands invites you to inquire about advertising. They have been awarded a grant and secured a sponsor and now have an opportunity to offset some of the expenses!

This guide was developed to provide an in-depth explanation of how to maintain, refine, and grow a farm business. Though it was designed for specialty crop producers with a few years of experience running a farm, it is widely applicable to farmers. Topics covered include: budgeting, financial planning, accessing capital and land, crop insurance, foundational business management practices, and strategic planning.

Lokahi Local Made is an online marketplace that has partnered with HTDC and INNOVATE Hawaii to provide customers with limited edition items of Hawaii brands. If you have a limited edition product you would like to sell, contact Lokahi here.

HTDC maintains a list of Hawaii manufacturers producing PPE. Find it here.

HIAMP is a nonprofit organization that provides free mediation services to the agricultural community, helping them navigate farm loans, credit issues, USDA compliance issues, and many other topics. For more information, visit hiamp.org.

KUPU is hiring program positions for its Hawaii Youth Conservation Corp community and summer program. KUPU is also looking for host sites.

List of Federal Financing Programs for Clean Energy

USDA's Organic Resource Guide

Oahu FarmShare is a new group that makes it easy for farmers to share equipment through peer-to-peer rentals. This Facebook group connects farm equipment owners seeking to rent their underutilized equipment with small operators and others who need it.

Malama Kauai’s Local Food Connector page includes gardening resources, food safety and keiki food access information, a local food directory, and more!

Ag Risk and Farm Management Library

The First Nations Development Institute has come out with a a list of grant writing resources, including Grant Applications 101, Grant Readiness, and Common Reasons for Application Rejection. They also have numerous  webinars on how to write the perfect grant application. Their 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 webinars can be found here.

USDA just launched AskUSDA, a one-stop shop for all USDA communications. Trained representatives can answer common questions and  quickly direct callers to agency experts. AskUSDA can be accessed by phone at (833) ONE-USDA from 4 am-12:30 pm on weekdays, by website at ask.usda.gov with live chat agents available from 5 am-1 pm on weekdays, or by email at askusda.gov.

USDA AMS is working with the University of Kentucky, Colorado State University, and the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development to create a COVID-19 Resource Hub for all local food systems stakeholders. To see relevant webinars, factsheets, articles, and more, filter by audience, topic, and opportunity type.

Back-to-School Resources for Farm to School and Farm to ECE Stakeholders During COVID-19

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Conservation Agricultural Mentoring Program is a state-driven program that matches an experienced producer who is passionate about conservation with a Natural Resources Conservation Service field employee that is new to the job. For more information, visit the Pacific Region coordinator Edgar Lopez at edgar.lopez@usda.gov or 808-600-2920.

Malama Kauai maintains a list of open farmers markets, retail markets, CSAs, on-farm pickups, locally made foods and more. To be added to this list, email megan@malamakauai.org.

USDA offers a free platform to help businesses connect with buyers. There are multiple listings, including farmers market directories, CSA directories, food hubs, and on-farm markets.

Nonprofitready.org is a free online learning library with articles and lessons on a multitude of different topics ranging from grant seeking to digital marketing. This resource is open to anyone, not just nonprofits, and provides short training modules on how to find, write, and acquire grants.

Food-A-Go-Go Farms helps consumers find local produce and producers. The platform includes local farmers, CSA providers, and local producers in two categories: Local Inside® for value-added products made with locally grown, caught or raised ingredients and Aloha Inside® for any food product made locally in Hawai‘i.

Comparison of Direct Sales Models and Platforms

The Kohala Center's Agricultural Resource Bulletins

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition's Farm Bill Programs

HDOA's Agricultural Loan Division

Chamber of Commerce's Coronavirus Small Business Guide

Farm Service Agency's Farm Loan Programs

CTAHR's COVID-19 Resource Page

USDA Rural Development's Rural Business-Cooperative Service Page

Agricultural workers and farmers work on farms to produce crops, livestock and dairy products. Farmers are at risk of exposure to asbestos through the soil, vermiculite, and products on farming equipment and machinery. Our organization provides free informational books, packets and a Patient Advocacy program that works 1-on-1 with individuals to help them find local doctors, treatment centers and support groups. 

The Kohala Center. 

The 14th cohort of this school garden teacher training will align sustainable agriculture practices with Hawaiʻi and national education standards. We will focus on nourishment, using the Hawaiʻi School Garden Curriculum Map (HSGCM) as a guide. This course will take place on Zoom. This is a new course and enrollment is open to all educators including those who have completed previous sessions of Kū ʻĀina Pā for PDE3 credit (pending approval). Enroll on PowerSchool: MULT187354 Ku Aina Pa: Standing Firmly in our Knowledge of the Land: School Learning Gardens as a Context for Nourishment Online.

Farmworkers or ranchers in the state that have worked on a farm/ranch for 30 days and/or earned at least $800 within the last two years may be eligible for the National Farmworker Jobs Program, a job training and employment assistance program for farmworkers and their families. Case managers provide assistance in finding employment, job training, educational opportunities and support services for free.

The Hawaii State Trade Expansion Program assists individual Hawaii companies with export market development activities such as participation in trade shows and missions. To apply for assistance, see below.

This program, which includes four sessions at The Kohala Center’s Demonstration Farm in Honoka’a followed by individual coaching from their Rural and Cooperative Business Development Services team, reconnects local farmers and gardeners with their ancestral relationships to food and the land. Participants will learn about topics ranging from agricultural production to business development and training. There is no cost to enroll, but space is limited.

The USDA, in collaboration with the NSAC, NCAT, and MFAI, published a comprehensive guide of federal programs that foster sustainable and innovative initiatives in agriculture and forestry. Information about economic development, farm loans, insurance and risk management, local food systems, value added and a marketing innovations, nutrition and consumer food access and more can all be found in this guide.

Hawaii SBDC has provided a section-by-section summary of the changes to the PPP under the Economic Aid Act. Access the summary here.

This guide introduces seven best management practices for Hawaii farmers to successfully co-manage food safety and land stewardship goals.

The Made in Hawaii Festival Online Marketplace gives businesses 24/7, year-round access to customers interested in purchasing products from across the state. If your business meets the Made in Hawaii guidelines, you may apply to the directory here.

The County of Kauai has teamed up with the Hawaii Tourism Authority to create a program that helps connect customers with local Kauai products. To visit the Kauai Made website, click here. To apply to be listed on Kauai Made, click here.

This program partners with innovative farmers and food companies to protect bees and other pollinators on agricultural lands. If a farm meets the Bee Better Certified Production Standards, it can qualify for the Bee Better Certified Seal that communicates to consumers a commitment to protecting pollinators.

The Department of Agriculture is hiring a Farm Service Agency Program Technician in Honolulu and a Farm Service Agency Agricultural Loan Assistant/Specialist. Applications for both positions close on 7/15/2021. There are numerous other positions also available at the Department of Agriculture- click here to learn more.

DSIRE's List of Renewable and Energy Efficient Programs in Hawaii

The Hawaii Women Farmers Network (WFN) is creating an online directory of women owned/operated farms, ranchers and agribusinesses.

CAFF's farming resources including information on ecological farming, CSA, food safety, marketing, online sales and more

Lind Insurance Services is offering coffee tree insurance for Maui and Hawaii Counties.

The USDA maintains a blog with multiple different topics ranging from conservation to ag business to farm life.

This easy-to-use five-step tool allows farmers and ranchers impacted by disasters to take a short quiz and find out which federal assistance programs they are eligible for.

The County of Hawaii is awarding businesses that have passed all State, County, DOH, and Hawaii Fire Department safety requirements with a Gold Star to inform consumers of companies that provide the safest possible conditions during the current phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to nominate a business.

Innovate Hawaii assists manufacturers looking to improve their business and are willing to invest time and resources to grow their company. They offer a free one-hour consultation on the first and third Tuesdays of every month.

The Kohala Center’s Beginning Farmer-Rancher Development Program trains Hawai‘i Island’s next generation of farmers and ranchers through a comprehensive, hands-on training course and exposes Hawaii Island high school students to agricultural careers through one- and two-week field programs.

The North Shore Economic Vitality Partnership will analyze Oahu and Kauai farmers’ irrigation water free of cost. For more information, contact Lisa@nsevp.org (Kauai) or lily@nsevp.org (Oahu).

Kokua Exchange allows the community to share their skills with others by bartering their services indirectly with other people. For example, if you volunteer two hours of your time towards helping someone else, then you can ask for two hours of someone else’s time to help you with your needs in anything from financial assistance to marketing and fundraising. If you have skills to share and/or needs to be met, sign up for Kokua Exchange here.

Hawaii Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations offers free technical assistance to the first 300 nonprofits requesting SBA loan assistance.

Grants.gov is the portal through which organizations apply for federal funding opportunities. A majority of federal funding opportunities are posted on grants.gov; thus, it is imperative that grant seekers maintain an up-to-date understanding of this portal. Grants.gov’s community blog provides tips for writing grant proposals and common eligibility and policy definitions referenced in the grants.gov website.

How to Set Up a Free Online Store for Farms on Square

Malama Kauai's Farmer Connection

HDOA's Business Resource Page

National Resources Conservation Service's Financial Assistance

Small Business Development Center's Resource Page

Federal Rural Resource Guide

Hawaii County Research and Development's COVID-19 Business Relief Page

Small Business Administration's COVID-19 Guidance and Loan Resources Page

Go Farm Hawaii

The Farmers Market Legal Toolkit includes legal resources, best practice recommendations, and case studies for market leaders on selecting and enhancing business structures, accepting SNAP benefits, and managing common risks.

Farm advocates help connect farmers with social, legal, agricultural and financial resources and services. They can assist farmers by referring them to helpful organizations, agencies, or other professionals. Topics they can provide support on include mediation, lender negotiation, dissolving partnerships, and dealing with farm losses.

This program provides technical assistance to veterans looking to start their own business. Through video instruction, mentoring, and access to capital, Warrior Rising helps veterans start or accelerate their businesses.

The Farm Bureau has created a helpful summary of the PPP complete with a list of local lenders. Check it out here.

DBEDT provides grant writing technical assistance to nonprofit organizations with projects that are readily implementable. Projects must exhibit components that incorporate community economic development benefit and show sustainability with the ability to create and maintain jobs in the community. Grants up to $5,000 are eligible for grant writing technical assistance, provided a cash match of 25% of the technical assistance request.

Cornell Small Farms offers resources on various aspects of farming during a crisis with a focus on the current COVID-19 pandemic. Articles include resilience building for livestock and dairy producers, labor and workforce planning, and more.

Shop Small Hawaii provides business resources and tools to small business owners in Hawaii through educational workshops and promotions and special events in collaboration with community partners. Register your business to receive further notifications.

Have questions around food safety, food quality, and third-party audits? Take the opportunity to speak to or seek development and implementation support from our experts! Up to four hours of assistance is extended on a first-come-first-served basis. Email mep@htdc.org for more information.

The Trust for Public Land and the Hawaiian Islands Land Trust, with support from The Castle Foundation, created a land conservation guide outlining the basics of land conservation with lists of land trusts and contact info.

Interested how healthy your farm and ranch business is? Take this farm and ranch business health assessment created by the farm credit council!

Hawaii Homegrown Food Network's Website Resources, Hawaii Organizations, and Other Hawaii Websites

Interagency Working Group on Aquaculture's Guide to Federal Aquaculture Programs and Services

Permanent Agriculture Resources and Forest Agriculture Research Center have created a free online platform that helps planners and growers develop agroforestry plans. This tool allows several types of plants to be displayed in a multi-layer system, and allows users to select from a range of planting patterns appropriate for multistory agroforestry.

CSA Innovation Network compiled 170 anonymous responses from a national survey of farmers to rank the nine most popular farm-specific and non farm-specific sales platforms on a variety of criteria including ease of use, value, and customer service capabilities. For further comparisons, view this online platform comparison chart.

The Kohala Center has created a list of certified kitchens available for use.

This directory, created by the Maui Economic Development Board, Maui County’s Office of Economic Development, and various community partners, helps businesses connect with local service providers. Help with everything from business leasing, learning and reservation, and export consultants can be found here.

The USDA is offering a free course to certifiers and inspectors on how to assess natural resources and biodiversity requirements in accordance with organic system plans. This course will teach participants what to review and include in inspection protocols and reports.

NF2SN has compiled COVID-19 related resources that are relevant to the farm-to-school and farm-to-early-care-and-education community.

Created by the Hawaii DBEDT, the Buy Hawaii, Give Aloha portal promotes Hawaii businesses and Hawaii-made products by listing local retailers, restaurants, farmers and manufacturers all in one place. Hawaii businesses that make more than 75% of their total product offerings in Hawaii can apply to be listed in this directory.

The Kohala Center’s Rural and Cooperative Business Development Services program provides assistance to partners interested in forming a cooperative business or are part of an existing cooperative that could benefit from technical assistance. Whether it's getting organized, writing a business plan, or becoming legally incorporated, The Kohala Center's Business Development Services team can help.

Kama`aina First is an exciting program supported by the County of Maui Office of Economic Development that allows Maui County businesses to share kama`aina deals at no cost. They also maintain a facebook page with over 10,000 members.

The Maui Economic Development Board recently held a webinar covering the 3508 EZ PPP Forgiveness application. This webinar walks you through the application and addresses commonly asked questions from Hawaii PPP recipients. The slide deck for the webinar can be found here.

Pacific Community Ventures offers free and confidential mentoring services to small business owners by matching organizations with pro-bono business coaches and mentors. Companies that have worked with these mentors have increased their annual revenue by an average of 20%.

The Star Advertiser has created a Hawaii business directory to keep the community informed about businesses' operating status during this pandemic.

Things to Consider When Selling Online

Go Farm Hawaii's AgBusiness Services Page

Senator Schatz's COVID-19 Resource Page

United Fresh's COVID-19 Resource Page

HI Food Alliance's COVID-19 Resource Page

Hawaii Chamber of Commerce's COVID-19 Response Hub

Hawaii Farm Bureau's COVID-19 Financial Resources Page

Farmers.gov's COVID-19 Farmers Assistance Page