The University of Hawaii System is expanding its innovation, entrepreneurship and workforce development programs with the help of a $2.7 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, or EDA, officials with the state school system announced on Wednesday.
The federal grant — which will be matched with $813,068 in local funding — will be used to bolster and scale UH's Innovation Impact Challenge initiative, a program that promotes Hawaii talent in an effort to strengthen Hawaii's economy. The IIC's second component, the IIC Workforce Development Program, will also establish programs at the UH Community Colleges to develop the state’s current workforce in information technology and other in-demand areas, in addition to promoting small business creation.
Current IIC partners include Hawaiian Electric, Hawaiian Telcom, Diamond Bakery and the National Security Innovation Network.
“In light of the current Covid-19 pandemic and world events beyond our control, never has it been more important for an island-state like Hawaii to develop new industries to supplement its primary, but often fragile tourism-based economy,” said UH Vice President for Research and Innovation Vassilis L. Syrmos, in a statement. “We are grateful to the EDA for their generous grant to the University of Hawaii and for recognizing the importance of our efforts to help diversify the local economy through our growing slate of innovation, entrepreneurship and workforce development programs.”
This project, which is led by the UH Office of Innovation and Commercialization, or OIC, is supported by CARES Act Funding, which provided the EDA with $1.5 billion to disburse economic assistance programs across the country.
“The CARES grant is a testament to the EDA’s belief in UH’s ability to deliver much-needed programs to help stimulate and develop a stronger and more resilient economy for the state of Hawaii and its citizens,” said Steve Auerbach, OIC interim director, in a statement.
