DBEDT’s Business Development
and Support Programs
The Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT) provides technical assistance, financing opportunities, and economic information to support your business. Please find a summary of resources below and follow the links for more information and to contact the individual divisions and programs.
Business Development & Support Division (BDSD)
- Support for existing and emerging small business and community-based organizations
- Provides resources and referrals for technical training and oversees the following programs:
- Community-Based Economic Development (CBED) Loan Program: Offers small business loans to qualified companies that support economic development in their communities
- Enterprise Zones (EZ): Offers tax incentives and benefits to companies that stimulate economic activity and job growth in needed areas
- Hawaiʻi State Trade Expansion Program (HiSTEP): Assists growing companies that want to export products and services overseas
- Made In Hawaiʻi: Promotes Made in Hawaiʻi products to local and new audiences through a central portal to online marketplaces
- Cybersafe Hawaiʻi: Cyber awareness program offering free training, technical assessments of IT systems, and security testing for eligible companies and non-profits
Creative Industries Division (CID)
- Resources, workshops, and services for musicians, performing and visual artists, literary artists, publishers, designers, media artists and creators
- Encompasses the Hawaiʻi Film Office that gives filmmakers, location scouts, and photographers access services such as permitting, studio space rentals, and incentive and tax credit information
- Provides access to the Entrepreneurs Sandbox in Honolulu for work and meeting space and studio and sound stage usage
Hawaiʻi Technology Development Corporation (HTDC)
- Focused programs and resources for companies building next-generation technology, renewable energy, innovation, and manufacturing industries
- Provides companies at all stages with opportunities for mentorship, expansion, access to grants and funding, usage of facilities, event sponsorship and oversees the following programs:
- Hawaiʻi Small Business Innovation Research Program (HSBIR): Matches grants to help companies developing new products
- Manufacturing Assistance Program (MAP) Grant: Offers financial support to growing manufacturers
Research & Economic Analysis Division (READ)
- Provides businesses with data, analyses, and economic forecasts that contribute to the State’s economic development and long-term planning
- Additionally READ collects, compiles, interprets and posts data and statistics on all aspects of Hawaiʻi’s economy, including Hawaiʻi’s tourism (visitor), labor, and energy sectors, and its population and demographic characteristics