Here is a link to a news release regarding preliminary test results indicating coffee leaf rust may be on Maui.

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Please see the attached memo from HDOA concerning suspected Coffee Leaf Rust discovered on Maui. We will keep you posted on any news relating to this topic.

Coffee Leaf Rust Memo

Below is an announcement from USDA that the deadline to sign up for WHIP Plus for 2018 and 2019 losses due to flooding, volcanic activity, drought, among others, will be Friday, October 30, 2020. According to the website for eligible counties, Honolulu, Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui counties are eligible for 2018 losses only. No Hawaii counties are eligible for relief for 2019 losses due to natural disasters. Also attached you will find a fact sheet with information about the program.

USDA Press Release - WHIP
WHIP Fact Sheet

USDA also stated that FSA will announce soon the details for producers who experienced quality loss from 2018 and 2019 natural disaster events authorized in appropriations legislation. There will be a separate signup period for producers reporting quality loss. 

For more information, please visit the farmers.gov WHIP+ webpage.

UPDATE FOR PPP LOANS OF $50,000 OR LESS

The SBA and Department of Treasury have jointly posted a new rule affecting the forgiveness and loan review processes for borrowers with Paycheck Protection Plan loans of $50,000 or less.  

These borrowers are now exempt from any reduction in forgiveness based on the reduction in the number of FTE employees or employee salaries or wages. 

They can also use SBA Form 3508S to apply for forgiveness, unless the borrower and its business affiliates received loans totaling $2 million or more.  Supporting documentation must still be submitted to their lender.  

The program has expired, so these conditions only apply to existing loans.

USDA CFAP Website

Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) expanded and now includes COFFEE, MAC NUT, LYCHEE, RAMBUTAN, AVOCADO, MANGO, and more.

Signup for CFAP 2 will begin September 21 and run through December 11, 2020. If your business was affected by the pandemic, and you are eligible for assistance, please sign up as soon as you can from September 21.

USDA to Provide Additional Direct Assistance to Farmers and Ranchers Impacted by the Coronavirus

President Donald J. Trump and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced up to an additional $14 billion dollars for agricultural producers who continue to face market disruptions and associated costs because of COVID-19. Signup will begin September 21 and run through December 11, 2020, for this next round of Coronavirus Food Assistance Program payments (CFAP 2).

Producers whose agricultural operation has been impacted by the pandemic since April 2020 are encouraged to apply for CFAP 2. Payments will be made for three categories of commodities: Price Trigger Commodities, Flat-rate Crops and Sales Commodities.

Specialty crops are included in the Sales Commodities category, which also includes aquaculture, nursery crops and floriculture and other commodities not included in the price trigger and flat-rate categories. Payment calculations will use a sales-based approach, where producers are paid based on five payment gradations associated with their 2019 sales. Flat-rate Crops include hemp.

A complete list of eligible commodities, payment rates and calculations are available on farmers.gov/cfap.

More information about CFAP 2 is in the full announcement.

Read the Full Announcement

CFAP 2 Producer Webinar

To introduce CFAP 2, the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) conducted a producer webinar Sept. 24, 2020 at  3 p.m. ET and discussed the expanded eligibility for certain commodities, new payment categories including a sales-based approach to specialty crops and other specific commodities, and information on how to apply.

See the Webinar Slides Here

Monthly economic indicators report (08-27-20) + COVID 19 resources as of 09/02/20- Maui County Office of Economic Development

Aloha Maui Community and Business Leaders, 

Thank you for all you do for our community and your organization while we continue to help each other during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

With the ongoing 14-day quarantine for out-of-state travelers and the return to the two-week quarantine for Neighbor Island travelers, we need to continue following safe practices to reduce the spread of the virus in our community. This includes avoiding crowds, observing physical distancing of 6 to 10 feet, wearing face masks in public, staying home when sick and frequently washing hands. 

We should also remember to practice “ALOHA” with everyone, while we help each other get through this difficult time to emerge Maui County strong. In this e-mail I have attached the press release on State of Hawaii’s online Safe Travels system that became mandatory effective Sept. 1.

Please sign up for all types of alerts and updates from the County at https://www.mauicounty.gov/list.aspx

Click here for the list of resources

Thank you. Please stay safe and healthy.

Aloha! 

Tokie Ogawa
Business Development Specialist 

Office of Economic Development

2200 Main Street, Suite 305

Wailuku, HI 96793

direct: 808-270-7415

Important Update on Eligibility and Required Documents

The Holomua Hawaiʻi program is now accepting applications from Sole Proprietors who are not registered with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA). Upates are underlined below.

Applicant Eligibility Requirements Update

• Non- profits and Businesses registered with the Hawaiʻi Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), and Sole Proprietors. 
• Non-DCCA Registered sole proprietorships that have filed a 2019 IRS Form 1040 Schedule C or F.
• Must have been established with the State of Hawaiʻi prior to March 23, 2020.
• Businesses and nonprofits must be located on Hawaiʻi Island, employ residents of Hawaiʻi, and provide direct services to Hawaiʻi Island communities.
• Must have 50 or fewer employees including full time, part time, and casual. 

Required Documents Update

• Note: all required documents should be submitted in pdf or jpg/jpeg format via the Holomua Hawaiʻi online Grant Application.
• Compliance Certificate or current DCCA Registration for organizations registered with the DCCA.
• First page of 2019 business tax return or 2019 Schedule C or annual GET reconciliation for 2019 or GET quarterly filings for 2020 (to verify revenue level). 
• For non-DCCA Registered sole proprietorships, 2019 IRS Form 1040 Schedule C or F, and 2020 quarterly GET filings are required.
• Copy of most recent payroll register or Form 941 for 2019 (to verify number of employees; not required for sole proprietorship or single member LLC).
• Completed Federal Form W-9. 
• Clear copies of receipts and or cancelled checks for reimbursement.
• Completed Holomua Hawaii COVID-19 Expense Workbook.
• IRS Form 8829 – for Businesses with only residential addresses.

Additional Update - Note that the telephone number for the Hawaiʻi County Employees Federal Credit Union has been corrected to 935-2969.

• For more information and to apply, go to www.holomuahawaii.com.
• Monitor www.hawaiicounty.gov/CARES for updates.

The Original Source of the Article