BUSINESS BRIEFS
State receives $2.1M in grants
Advertiser Staff and News Services
Hawai'i has received $2.1 million in grants from the federal government to strengthen the ability of hospitals and other healthcare facilities to respond to bioterror attacks, infectious diseases and natural disasters that may cause mass casualties, the Department of Health and Human Services announced yesterday.
Hawai'i's share was part of the $430 million the federal government distributed to healthcare facilities nationwide. The bulk of the grants were distributed to New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles County and Washington, D.C.
"These grants are an important addition to national security because our hospitals and other healthcare facilities play such a critical role in responding to a terrorist attack, an infectious-disease outbreak, and natural disasters," HHS secretary Mike Leavitt said.
A&B PROMOTES SENIOR EXECUTIVE
Meredith Ching has been promoted to senior vice president for Alexander & Baldwin Inc., the company announced.
Ching previously was vice president for government and community relations, having been promoted to that position in 1992. She continues to report to A&B Chairman and Chief Executive Allen Doane and will retain responsibility for those functions.
Ching joined A&B in 1982 and was promoted to vice president, corporate natural resources in 1988. She has retained responsibilities related to the company's natural resource assets since then. Three years later, she added government affairs to her responsibilities and, in 1992, Ching also was given the corporation's community relations functions. Before joining A&B, she was a financial analyst for Dillingham Corp.
SOPOGY TO ISSUE SOLAR FARM BONDS
Sopogy Inc., a local renewable energy company, has received state approval to issue $10 million in special revenue bonds to build a solar farm tentatively planned for the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai'i Authority facility in Kona.
The company specializes in development, manufacturing and distribution of solar power systems for electricity generation.
Sopogy was founded in 2002 by local entrepreneur Darren Kimura with the goal of addressing environmental issues, such as climate change, energy security and sustainability.
EVENT WILL HONOR JAPANESE CONSUL
The outgoing consul general of Japan and his wife will be honored at a dinner July 11 organized by the Japan-America Society of Hawaii and Friends of the East-West Center.
Shigeo Iwatani has served as consul general since 2005. His diplomatic career spans more than 20 years and includes postings in Indonesia, China and Germany.
The farewell event is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Coral Ballroom IV. For details, call the Japan-America Society at 524-4450.
