Asset Building and Financial Empowerment: Examples from Hawai‘i County’s Ka‘ū Community...

Asset Building and Financial Empowerment: Examples from Hawai‘i County’s Ka‘ū

Community Development Plan

Ron WhitmoreLong Range PlannerHawai‘i County Planning DepartmentJune 29, 2012

Overview

Context: Community Planning County of Hawai‘i Community

Development Plans (CDPs) Ka‘ū CDP Types of Strategies Prospects for Asset Building and

Financial Empowerment

Community Planning Scale: between comprehensive (e.g., General Plan)

and site-specific (e.g., master plans) Stakeholders: residents, community

organizations, landowners, businesses, agencies, etc.

Scope: comprehensive but focused by community priorities

Process: participatory with appropriate roles Outcome: create conditions for asset building and

financial empowerment

County of Hawai‘i Community Development Plans (CDPs) Translate the goals of the

County General Plan into specific actions for geographical regions around the island

Create a forum for community input into land-use and delivery of government services

Adopted by ordinance

Ka‘ū CDP

Majestic Ka‘ū

Lessons Learned and Applied in Ka‘ū

Solid planning foundations: Community Values & Vision + Community Profile = Community Goals

Explicit focus on community-based economic development (CBED)

Right expertise: local and outside

Lessons Learned and Applied in Ka‘ū Ensure that it’s implementable

Feasible:LegalFinancialCapacity

Different audiences:Planners (policy) Investors (reverse RFP)Community (action & finance plans)

Include capacity building strategies

Types of Strategies Policy

Land use policy mapOther policies in

County jurisdiction Advocacy: policy

outside County jurisdiction

Community-Based, Collaborative Action

Public and Private Reserves

Prospects for Asset Building andFinancial Empowerment

Preserve a range of assets: natural, cultural, community, economic Policies and policy maps:

Protect the shoreline, watershed, forests, and cultural sites

Protect access, particularly for nā ‘ohana economy

Preserve village/town integrity & character

Acquire vulnerable assets

Prospects for Asset Building andFinancial Empowerment

Enhance a range of assets Policy

Increase access Establish mixed-use districts Establish appropriate visitor “nodes” Improve public facilities: recreational, safety,

transportation Community-based, collaborative initiatives

Manage ecosystems, cultural sites, and access Establish trail corridors Document the rich history Prepare interpretive resources to share Ka‘ū as a cultural

center/network

Prospects for Asset Building andFinancial Empowerment

Grow economic opportunity grounded in assets and regional identity Community-based, collaborative initiatives

Expand agriculture and local food production Home, community, school Value chain

Use natural resources sustainably Credits for ecosystem services Appropriate renewable energy

Welcome visitors Authenticity, protocols, scale Ag/eco/geo-tourism

Grow local businesses Technical/financial support to decrease leakage

Learn More

www.kaucdp.info Ron Whitmore: (808) 961-8137

rwhitmore@co.hawaii.hi.us