In brief

Tina Keane joins Lili‘uokalani Trust

Tina Keane has joined Lili‘uokalani Trust (LT) as its investment director to oversee the organization’s investment fund.

“LT’s investment fund provides funding for current and future programs which serve orphan and destitute Hawaiian children. I am thrilled to welcome Tina to our team,” said Dawn Harflinger, executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Keane brings to her new role more than 20 years of experience as a finance professional. Most recently, Keane was at Kamehameha Schools where she covered a range of responsibilities, including sourcing new managers, determining strategic and tactical allocations, and performing investment due diligence on institutional money managers for its global, diversified portfolio. She directly managed the Real Assets portfolio of marketable and private equity investments.

Kean received her Bachelor’s in Economics at the University of California, San Diego, and her M.B.A. at Chaminade University. She currently serves on the Governing Board of University Laboratory Schools and is a Board member at Habilitat, a long-term addiction facility located in Kaneohe.

“I could not be more humbled to have the opportunity to contribute to the work that Lili‘uokalani Trust is undertaking, which has had a profound effect on so many lives,” said Keane. “I feel incredibly fortunate to join such a talented and progressive team who are driven to support the mission.”

Comment sought on removing barriers to SBA loans

The U.S. Small Business Administration invites public comment on a proposed rule designed to remove regulatory provisions that exclude certain faith-based organizations from seven business loan and disaster assistance programs. These programs include the Intermediary Lending Program (ILP), Business Loan programs (7(a), Microloan and 504 programs, Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan (MREIDL) program and Immediate Disaster Assistance Program (IDAP).

Because these provisions exclude otherwise eligible applicants based on their religious status, they violate their constitutionally guaranteed religious liberty rights. By eliminating the provisions, the proposed rule would ensure that SBA’s programs provide equal treatment for faith-based organizations, which the Constitution requires, and would correspond with the former-President Donald Trump’s Executive Order Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty.

“Today’s proposed rule would remove barriers to SBA loans and disaster assistance that current regulations unfairly impose on faith-based businesses and organizations,” said SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza. “America’s faith-based small businesses and organizations play a vital role in providing employment opportunities, products, and essential educational, training and youth social services that benefit both our local communities and the overall national economy. Today’s proposed rule would ensure that these businesses and organizations are not forced to choose between their faith and the SBA financial assistance that they need to continue serving the public and employing our neighbors.”

Public comments on this proposed rule can be submitted by Feb. 18 at www.regulations.gov using the following RIN number: RIN 3245-AH60. The public may also comment by mail to Valerie Mills, Executive Operations Officer, Office of General Counsel, U.S. Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street, SW, Washington, DC 20416.

For more information about SBA’s assistance to faith-based communities, visit https://bit.ly/3sJ0ZHv.