
HONOLULU – The City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Budget and Fiscal Services is announcing that the Transit Construction Mitigation Fund (TCMF) Grant Online Portal will open to accept applications beginning at 10 a.m. on Monday, January 27, 2025.
The Honolulu City Council passed Bill 40 in January of 2024 to establish the TCMF to provide relief to eligible local businesses financially impacted by the construction of the Honolulu Rail Transit Project. For the current fiscal year, grants of $10,000 per applicant will be awarded. TCMF grants will be awarded on a first come, first served basis, based on authorized funding for the program.
Councilmember Tyler Dos Santos-Tam and Councilmember Radiant Cordero — who each represent portions of the Kalihi community — introduced Bill 40. The City’s Department of Budget and Fiscal Services has been working diligently to get the TCMF Grant Online Portal up and running since Mayor Rick Blangiardi signed Bill 40 into law in February of 2024.
“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 Mayor Rick Blangiardi. “Consequently, we are providing these grants to help our local businesses get through a challenging time.”
“The small businesses that make Kalihi so special have been suffering throughout Rail’s development,” said Councilmember Tyler Dos Santos-Tam. “I’m glad that after years of talking about throwing them a lifeline, we’re finally actually doing it.”
“Small businesses are such an important part of our community and economy, and those facing challenges during the construction of the largest public transportation project in our state really need our support right now,” said Councilmember Radiant Cordero. “The Transit Construction Mitigation Fund is here to help these businesses stay strong, and I encourage anyone eligible to take a look at the program and apply while the window is open. I championed this program on behalf of our business neighbors so we can help these businesses keep going and make sure our community continues to grow and thrive as we work toward a more connected future.”
Grants of up to $10,000 will be available to eligible businesses that:
– Have 15 or fewer employees;
– Generate less than $750,000 in annual revenue;
– Are located within one block of active rail construction on Dillingham Boulevard;
– Are currently open for business;
– Are majority owned by City residents;
– Were open for business at their current physical location before January 1, 2022; and
– Meet the business 10% revenue decline requirement.
Subject to annual funding availability, the City intends to consider TCMF grants for businesses along the active construction corridor for the rail line.
For more information about the grant availability and the application process, please visit https://www.revitalizeoahu.org/tcmf-info. Grant applications must be submitted by 10 a.m. Hawaiʻi Standard Time on Friday, February 7, 2025.