Farmer aid offered for coral mitigation
WAILUKU - West Maui farmers and ranchers can qualify for technical and financial assistance from the federal government under the West Maui Coral Reef Initiative.
The program, being run under the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service, seeks to reduce soil erosion and runoff that can damage coral reefs. Farmers and ranchers who participate can install cover crops, vegetative barriers, sediment basins and micro-irrigation systems, or plant trees and shrubs to restore rare habitats on their land.
The area covered by the initiative is West Maui, Kahakuloa, Waihee, Wailuku, Waikapu and Maalaea.
A first-round ranking of applications will take place March 16. If funding is still available, a second round will be held May 18.
To apply, contact the Kahului NRCS office at 871-5500 or at 77 Hookele St., Suite. 202. Information also is available online at www.pia.nrcs.usda.gov.
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Hospitality, lodging trade show planned
WAILUKU - Maui's first Hospitality and Lodging Trade Show and Conference will be held from 1 to 7 p.m. March 29 at the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa.
The American Hotel Register Co. is hosting the event, which is open to Maui hospitality and lodging professionals.
It will include sessions in disaster recovery and business continuity planning, new hospitality service concepts, blood-borne pathogens and recycling.
Reservations are required. For more information, call (800) 671-9258, ext. 1141, or send email to hawaiitradeshows@americanhotel.com.
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SBA appointments available to owners
KAHULUI - The Small Business Administration will be accepting appointments to discuss special financing tools for qualified start-up and existing business owners from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 13 at the Maui County Business Resource Center at the Maui Mall.
Loans of $5,000 up to $500,000 may be available to existing and start-up businesses with good personal credit and through SBA's Export, Patriot and SBA Express loan programs.
Reservations are mandatory for the 30-minute appointments. To make a reservation, call (808) 541-2990, ext. 210. Reservations also may be made at www.sba.gov/hi. Appointments will be confirmed by SBA.
