This week, members of Hawaiʻi State government are in the Washington D.C. attending the National Forum on Education Policy hosted by the Education Commission of the States. Hawaiʻi State Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz (District 17 – Portion of Mililani, Mililani Mauka, portion of Waipi‘o Acres, Launani Valley, Wahiawā, Whitmore Village), Deputy Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism Dane Wicker, and Leeward Community College Chancellor Carlos Peñaloza are all representing Hawaiʻi on the national stage. The three-day event from July 10th to 12th brings together state education policy leaders from all around the country to discuss and address the most pressing issues in state education policy.
In representing Hawaiʻi, Senator Dela Cruz, Deputy Director Wicker, and Chancellor Peñaloza collaborated to present “Connecting Workforce Development and Regional Strengths for Economic Prosperity.” The three panelists shared with attendees how Hawaiʻi is leveraging regional advantages and creating pathways for workforce development to revitalize and grow the state’s economy.
Senator Dela Cruz highlighted Central Oʻahu as a case study for how regional economic growth can be achieved through agriculture. With state investment Central Oʻahu is building the supports for an economic ecosystem that will drive and support growth. Senator Dela Cruz explained that “to achieve the goal of regional economic development, we are building the foundations that will make that vision possible. As a key foundation, workforce development at various levels is integral to preparing for, planning, and supporting economic growth and activity.”
The nexus of workforce development and regional strengths can be seen in the new Wahiawa Value-Added Product Development Center (WVAPDC), a collaboration between Leeward Community College (Leeward CC) and the State of Hawaiʻi. Chancellor Peñaloza presented on the WVAPDC and Leeward CC’s associated educational programs to support workforce development in the agriculture industry. “With the revitalization of industries, we need a strong, skilled workforce to meet job demand. I am so excited about the role that community colleges can play in providing educational programs to develop entrepreneurs who can thrive in, and support, an economic ecosystem,” said Chancellor Peñaloza.
These efforts to scale and grow agriculture in Central Oʻahu are part of a broader mission to make an economically sustainable Hawaiʻi. Deputy Director Wicker illustrated, “strengthening and diversifying the economy is key to the prosperity of future generations in Hawaiʻi. By investing in sectors with high growth potential, like value-added product development, and by investing in infrastructure, facilities, and equipment, we can establish and expand small businesses. This will not only diversify our local economy but also help reverse brain drain, ensuring an economically sustainable future for our State.”
With the insights of Senator Dela Cruz, Deputy Director Wicker, and Chancellor Peñaloza, participants in D.C. got to hear about the exciting developments happening in the Aloha State. On the national stage, they demonstrated a model not only for economic development across Hawaiʻi, but across the nation.