Community Outreach & Public Engagement

NOVACES’ experts in community outreach, public relations, and project labor agreement administration are motivated by measurable goals and outcomes. With extensive hands-on experience across a wide variety of circumstances and potential conflicts, the NOVACES team can develop and facilitate community outreach and public engagement services from inception and planning to construction through operations.

Our services include developing community outreach plans, business and construction impact mitigation plans, and facilitating user-friendly public information meetings with merchants, stakeholders, and residents. We develop strategic communication plans that engage clients, community groups, public agencies, businesses, workforce representation, elected officials, and the media in dialogue to facilitate the development, implementation, and utilization of capital programs.

A community is an unfolding story that changes every day. A capital program requires patience, responsibility, and consideration as it is incorporated as a new chapter into a community's story. NOVACES possesses the cultural competencies and awareness to assist in meeting the client's needs, elevating accessibility, and making sound decisions that will move programs forward. This awareness includes understanding the linguistic needs, complex histories, cultural sensitivities, and trepidations from past capital programs that lacked transparency and community participation.

NOVACES creates project collateral, periodic news publications, and ongoing content for project websites and social media outlets. We can conduct and analyze surveys to engender overall enthusiasm and encourage stakeholder participation in projects. These services aim to develop a dialogue between the client, public agencies, and community stakeholders to align goals and expectations and minimize disruption to successful project completion.

NOVACES’ Community Outreach Informs Construction Workforce Strategic Planning in Maui During Disaster Recovery Mission

Maui County requested a study in the Spring of 2024 to assess the status of its workforce and develop comprehensive strategies aimed at effectively preparing for an anticipated spike in construction activity as the debris-clearing phase ended in Lahaina and the community began preparing to rebuild from the August 2023 wildfires.

As part of the study, a NOVACES Economic Disaster Recovery and Workforce Development expert interviewed Hawai′i unions to get a statewide perspective of the construction industry’s workforce supply and demand and other influencing factors.

Workforce Shortages in the Construction Industry

The study revealed a notable difference in the proportion of construction workers between O′ahu and Maui, with only 12% of the state's total construction workforce located in Maui, in contrast to 71% in O′ahu.

Total Construction Workforce

• Hawai′i State: 30,390
• O′ahu Island: 21,640
• Maui Island: 3,670

The shortage of construction workers is not unique to Maui. However, through discussions with local unions, the NOVACES consultant identified specific challenges in hiring construction workers. One significant issue is that major construction projects currently underway in Oʻahu are attracting workers away from Maui.

The insights gained from these interviews led to the development of six strategies proposed to the State and Maui County. These strategies aim to effectively coordinate resources in alignment with Maui’s anticipated rebuilding needs.