Any ideas for economic growth for Puna?

[Del Pranke]

Kapohocat, I agree with all your points, but communication is an important way to create community. A low-power FM radio station does not have to be a not for profit concept in itself, and it can be used to help promote local businesses and enterprises.

[Bob Orts]

quote:

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Originally posted by Seeb

if there is vacant commercial space in the villages can it be rented out as booth space like the permanent flea markets on the mainland to allow for micro biz's

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Hawaii County's current zoning regulations makes this a very simple process. If the building is already zoned and permits "retail", there is nothing in any of the codes to restrict use to a single user. Multi users are allowed as individual business within the single retail location.

There will be some building, fire, safety and health requirements based on the anticipated occupancy, but otherwise, you just need a property owner willing to do it.

There are some limits such as "repair" or "food processing" but so long as a micro business stays within the limits, it's a good idea.

[Bob Orts]

quote:

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Originally posted by Kapohocat

I would like to go back to the original question - ideas for economic growth for Puna

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Private Prison!

[Del Pranke]

Is we is, or is we isn', gonna get ourselves a prisin?

[JerryCarr]

Well, they just closed the State prison at Kulani. If you want to see a lot of outraged citizens, just suggest putting one near their neighborhood. Personally, I think it's not a bad idea to have one here, State or private. It would create jobs, make it easier for the convicts to re-integrate into society near the end of their sentences, and help reduce the "out of sight, out of mind" mentality a lot of people have with crime and punishment in Hawaii.

[Bob Orts]

quote:

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Originally posted by JerryCarr

If you want to see a lot of outraged citizens, just suggest putting one near their neighborhood.

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It’s so funny how 10 - 15 years ago, private prisons had such a hard time finding places to accept them. Now, communities are begging them to consider their community for a private prison. It was one of those things where the name "prison" clouded people's objectivity and they let emotions over ride common sense. That’s why I really appreciate when private prisons look no further than where they already operate, rewarding those communities for their past trust.

I can not think of any reason people would be againt a private prison in Puna except the name "prison". It's one of the few net positive economic development projects any community can have.

[PaulW]

I think money and/or effort should be invested in attracting more retirees to Hawaii/Puna.
They bring money, create jobs, don't add to traffic.

It would also be great to attract people with jobs who work over the internet, but for that we'd need to actually have decent internet first.

[Darren]

The issue of Puna unable to procure the cooperative benefits of community radio is a telling one and salient to a discussion of economics.

Community radio furthers aspiration of community to forge beneficial connections within itself, using an appropriate level of technology (energy). Suffice to say if our immediate subdivision neighbors were even aware of the local resources/people available for barter/exchange etc., we'd create very palpable healthful yields -- while driving less.

However, it doesn't take long to realize that this scenario is ultimately more rewarding to producers, and ultimately threatening to middlemen (and women) used to professionally sanctioned entitlements at the trough. Surely the reform coming (in ways yet to be determined) will be weighing the former much higher than the latter.

The establishment of community radio would be a very significant tool of local-reliance -- as prerequisite to responsible global participation.

[KeaauRich]

How about an adult video and toy store? Oh wait...never mind

(I crack me up!)

[Kapohocat]

quote:

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Originally posted by Del Pranke

Kapohocat, I agree with all your points, but communication is an important way to create community. A low-power FM radio station does not have to be a not for profit concept in itself, and it can be used to help promote local businesses and enterprises.

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Radio station is not a bad idea either.