Administration outlines centralized effort to boost Honolulu’s federal grant capacity and names coordinator
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Summary
City officials briefed the committee on efforts to centralize federal funding coordination, discussed procurement bottlenecks, and introduced a new federal grants coordinator and external contractors to improve grant competitiveness.
City administration officials told the Honolulu City Council public-safety committee on Thursday that the city is stepping up efforts to centralize federal grant coordination and to shore up capacity in departments that do not regularly pursue federal funding.
Deputy Managing Director Christian Jara summarized previous efforts (ordinances in 2021–2024, a Washington, D.C., adviser, and an MOA with the Ulupono Initiative) and announced the city has hired a federal grants coordinator (referred to on the record as Erica). The Office of Economic Revitalization and contractors from Essential Leap presented a capacity analysis that identified procurement delays and inconsistent interdepartmental processes as principal barriers to applying for and administering federal grants.
Consultants recommended templates, a go/no-go screening process for opportunities, cross-department staffing or shared positions to handle grant administration, and training to raise existing staff capacity. Officials said this work is supported by council appropriations and pilot funding (including SLFRF funds) and that some contracts will continue into 2026.
What’s next: the coordinator will complete a needs assessment, propose staffing and procurement reforms, and oversee a project tracker and templates to increase the city’s ability to compete for federal discretionary and formula funds.