Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 21, Number 8, 1 August 2004 — Got $$? Seek grants or loans [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Got $$? Seek grants or loans

Aloha mai kākou. In the short period of time that I have been a Trustee at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, many beneficiaries have approached me with questions regarding OHA grants. Therefore, I would like to remind everyone that the deadline for OHA grant proposals for Fiscal Year 2004-05 is coming up. Funding requests must be for the purpose of community development within the areas of education, health, human services and culture. Proposals mailed must be postmarked no later than Aug. 27, 2004 and hand delivered proposals must be delivered to any OHA office by 4:30 p.m. Aug. 27, 2004. According to the OHA Grants Program Guidelines for Funding, "The Grants program of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs assists eommu-nity-based non-profit organizations that are working to address the needs of the Hawaiian Community. This funding program is not designed to provide financial support to individuals for personal needs or to finance business ventures." The Office of Hawaiian

Affairs offers two other programs to assist beneficiaries for business ventures or personal needs. Grants Program Funding: The criteria for grant eligibility is as follows: the organization must have IRS tax-exempt non-profit status (operating in the State of Hawai'i) or be a government agency; the project must benefit Native Hawaiians individually or as a group; the organization must provide a percentage of total project cost (percentage determined by the amount of funding request), and all applicants must attend an OHA Grant Workshop or meet with Grants Program staff within 12 months prior to the application deadline. The next scheduled Grant Workshop will be held on Thursday, Aug. 5 in the OHA Board Room (711 Kapi'olani Blvd., Ste. 500). To reserve your seat, please eall the Grants office at 594-1925, or 594-1888 (OHA's main switchboard). Leading the team of eapahle Grants Specialists is Nancy King Holt. Nancy is assisted by Carolina Lam and Stephanie Kon. This professional team of efficient and

hard-working individuals is ready to assist you and your organization so that your grant request experience is a positive one. Again, remember the deadline dates and eall OHA to either make an appointment or request a Grants Packet. Consumer Micro-Loan Program: Another funding related program offered at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is its Consumer Micro-Loan Program whieh is designed to provide low-cost loans to Native Hawaiians who are experiencing "temporary financial hardship" due to unforeseen events, or who wish to enhanee their careers. For more information and an application packet, please eall OHA's Micro Loan team at 594-1829 or 594-1888 (OHA's main switchboard). This proficient and experienced team includes Dana Hauanio-Lore, Business/Micro Loan Supervisor, and Consumer Loan Officer, Gilbert Fernandes. This Consumer MicroLoan Program is fairly new to OHA and hopes to address financial needs that our beneficiaries have long been awaiting. The Native Hawaiian Revolving

Loan Fund (NHRLF): NHRLF is OHA's lending program for Native Hawaiians whose mission is to increase sustainable business by fostering eeonomie independence, commitment and fiscal responsibility through entrepreneurial development. This program's purpose is to expand the entrepreneurial opportunities of Hawaiians unahle to secure conventional financing through traditional lending sources. Loans up to $75,000 with low interest and loan terms up to seven years are available for qualified applicants. Leading OHA's Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund team is our skillful Senior Loan Manager Dean Oshiro and his resourceful team members Susan Maltezo and Sharon Kato. Please eall 594-1917 or 594-1888 (OHA's main switchboard) for more information. As always, my staff and I invite your comments on the above or any other concerns within our purview. My OHA access numbers are: phone 594-1854, fax 594-0210 and e-mail address - dantec@oha.org. A hui hou, mālama pono. ■

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Dante Keala Carpenter Trustee, O'ahu