HomeMy WebLinkAboutPR_2022-03-24OEDKEDBreleasesKauaiCEDSPlan2022-2026.pdfDEREK S.K. KAWAKAMI, MAYOR MICHAEL A. DAHILIG, MANAGING DIRECTOR
News Release
For Immediate Release: March 24, 2022
COUNTY OF KAUA‘I
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
NALANI BRUN, DIRECTOR
(808) 241-4946
OED, KEDB releases Kaua‘i Comprehensive Economic Development Strategic Plan
2022-2026
LĪHU‘E – The County of Kaua‘i’s Office of Economic Development (OED), in partnership with the
Kaua‘i Economic Development Board (KEDB), announces the release of the Kaua‘i Comprehensive
Economic Development Strategic Plan (CEDS) for 2022 to 2026.
CEDS is a strategy-driven plan for regional economic planning, serving to engage community
leaders, include the involvement of the private sector, and establish a strategic blueprint for regional
collaboration. The plan was last updated for 2016 to 2020.
“We extend our thanks and appreciation to our Office of Economic Development and partner,
the Kaua‘i Economic Development Board, Jackie Kaina, as well as the focus group stakeholders for
helping us to navigate through this process,” said Mayor Derek S. K. Kawakami. “Additionally, we want
to thank the many participants who gave their time and effort to develop this plan which will help guide
us through the next four years.”
In the summer of 2021, the plan’s steering committee took on the theme “Kupa‘a Kaua‘i –
Kaua‘i Forward!” – aligning with the County of Kaua‘i’s pandemic recovery plan to come together as a
community, working collaboratively to rebuild, restart and re-energize the future of Kaua‘i. The CEDS
update brought together a broad spectrum of community leaders from business, government,
education, nonprofits, technology, and agriculture to exchange ideas and to discuss common challenges
and opportunities for making Kaua‘i County a better place.
The update maintains the focus of the previous CEDS plans on diversifying Kaua‘i’s economy by
focusing on industry clusters – food and agriculture; renewable energy sustainable technologies and
practices; science and technology; health and wellness; and arts and culture. This year, visitor industry
management and natural resource preservation was added as a focus area.
The CEDS process enabled networking opportunities among community members where they
were able to discuss and debate important issues. During the development process, a total of 25 virtual
meetings were held focusing on topics such as economic growth, tourism management, agricultural
practices, infrastructure improvements, leveraging technology, strengthening healthcare, transportation
alternatives, and climate change.
“This plan will act as the roadmap and eventual framework for assessing and achieving progress
toward the economic goals that the county’s stakeholders have collectively outlined,” said KEDB
Director Jackie Kaina. “Over the next five years, the Kaua‘i County CEDS Steering Committee, industry
clusters, and the Kaua‘i Economic Development Board will monitor the progress and continue building
the partnerships necessary to achieve the CEDS goals.”
“In the spirit of ‘Kupa‘a Kaua‘i – Kaua‘i Forward!,’ this document intends to serve as a tool for
better communication and collaboration toward the work of building a more thriving, equitable and
sustainable regional economy which is something we all want,” said OED Director Nalani Brun.
“Economic diversification clearly takes a village, and I want to thank our community members for
helping to make that happen for all of us.”
To view a copy of the CEDS plan, visit www.kauai.gov/OED and click on the “Kaua‘i Economic
Development Plan” tab, or visit www.kedb.com.
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