Kona Low Business Recovery Grant | Hawaii County, HI Research & Development

Deadline to Apply: August 31, 2026, 4:30 PM

June 26, 2026: The County of Hawaiʻi announces the launch of the Kona Low Business Recovery Grant Program to support eligible Hawaiʻi Island businesses impacted by the Kona Low storm systems that occurred from March 13 through March 27, 2026.

The program, administered by the Department of Research and Development in partnership with the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, will provide targeted grant assistance to businesses that experienced storm-related physical damage and/or business interruption losses and continue to have unmet recovery needs.

A total of $475,000 has been allocated to Hawaiʻi Island for this recovery effort.

Informational Webinar

Click here for the presentation slide deck.

About the Kona Low Business Recovery Grant Program

The Kona Low Business Recovery Grant Program is intended to assist eligible non-agricultural businesses operating within the County of Hawaiʻi that were affected by the March 2026 Kona Low events.

Grant funds may be used for eligible storm-related recovery needs, including equipment repair or replacement, inventory replacement, temporary relocation costs, rent and utilities, cleanup, and water damage.

Grant awards will be made based on the applicant’s gross annual revenue as reflected in the most recently filed federal tax return:

$5,000 grants for businesses with gross annual revenue of $250,000 or less.
$10,000 grants for businesses with gross annual revenue of more than $250,000 and up to $5,000,000.

Businesses must have 500 or fewer employees and must demonstrate storm-related unmet need.

Eligibility

To be eligible, applicants must be non-agricultural businesses that were operating within the County of Hawaiʻi before March 13, 2026, maintain a physical business location within the County, and demonstrate documented physical damage and/or business interruption caused by the March 13–27, 2026 Kona Low events.

Applicants must also identify an eligible use of grant funds supported by documentation and submit a complete application with all required materials.

Required documentation may include proof of business registration, proof of a physical business location, a Certificate of Good Standing from the State of Hawaiʻi, storm-impact documentation, insurance claim information, financial statements, tax returns, and other supporting records.

Submission of an application does not guarantee funding. Awards are subject to program eligibility, documentation sufficiency, demonstrated unmet need, and availability of funds.

How to Apply

Grant Portal Guidance