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HONOLULU – A company in which Senate Speaker Ronald Kouchi owns shares and is employed by has received a small business coronavirus relief loan from the federal government, according to data released by the Small Business Administration.
Garden Isle Disposal LLC, Kauai’s largest privately-owned solid waste management services company, received a paycheck protection program loan in the range of $ 350,000 to $ 1 million.
The company handles garbage disposal and recycling for commercial and residential customers on the Island of Kauai, according to its website. It has been in operation since the early 90s.
Kouchi is originally from Kauai and has represented the island in the Senate since 2010.
Kouchi said he and his wife owned shares in the company. Financial disclosure forms filed with the state Ethics Commission indicate that the shares are worth between $ 50,000 and $ 100,000.
He also earns a salary from Garden Isle Disposal for his community relations work. His disclosure forms indicate that he received between $ 50,000 and $ 100,000 per year.
Kouchi’s brother, Scott Kouchi, is the president of the company.
Ronald Kouchi said the company, which employs 40 to 50 people, suffered a drop in revenues after hotels and businesses were closed during the pandemic. But he said the company had neither fired nor put anyone on leave since getting the loan.
“So I think it is fortunate that the 40 to 50 employees continue to be fully employed and that Garden Isle Disposal can continue to provide the essential commercial waste collection service,” Kouchi said.
The paycheck protection program is part of a $ 2 trillion coronavirus aid package passed by Congress in March. On Monday, the Small Business Administration, which oversees the program, released the names of companies that have received loans over $ 150,000.
The program aims to motivate small businesses to keep their employees or, if they have made them redundant, to put them back to work.
Kouchi, Democrat, has been President of the Senate since 2015.
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