The City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Budget and Fiscal Services announced that businesses affected by the Skyline construction can now apply for financial relief.

Last year, the Honolulu City Council passed Bill 40, creating the Transit Construction Mitigation Fund to assist local businesses financially impacted by the construction of Skyline. This year, businesses are eligible to receive $10,000 grants, awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

“We cannot afford to lose the services and character that our neighborhood businesses provide to our communities, especially considering that they are on the cusp of benefiting tremendously from Skyline, which will become a transformative economic driver when it is complete,” said Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi. “Consequently, we are providing these grants to help our local businesses get through a challenging time.”

Councilmember Tyler Dos Santos-Tam, who represents portions of Kalihi, added, “The small businesses that make Kalihi so special have been suffering throughout Rail’s development. I’m glad that after years of talking about throwing them a lifeline, we’re finally actually doing it.”

Grant Application Process

The Transit Construction Mitigation Fund Grant Online Portal will accept applications from 10 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 27, until 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 7.

To qualify for a grant, businesses must meet the following criteria:

• Fewer than 15 employees
• Less than $750,000 in annual revenue
• Located within one block of active rail construction on Dillingham Boulevard
• Currently open for business
• Majority owned by City residents
• Open for business at their current location before Jan. 1, 2022
• Meet the business 10% revenue decline requirement

These grants are aimed at supporting businesses through a challenging period as construction continues.