Business Development and Support Division

Small businesses are vital to the U.S. economy, yet comprehensive data on their financing needs and challenges remain scarce. The Federal Reserve Banks address this gap through the annual Small Business Credit Survey (SBCS), gathering unique insights into how and why small businesses seek financing. As an independent and decentralized entity, the Fed is uniquely positioned to collect, analyze, and distribute this essential data to inform decision-makers and stakeholders nationwide.

HONOLULU – The popular Hawaiʻi Small Business Fair returns, offering an extensive array of resources and expert-led training sessions to empower local entrepreneurs as they launch and expand their businesses in Hawaiʻi’s dynamic and evolving business environment. Scheduled for Saturday, September 28, 2024, at Leeward Community College from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., this free event is open for business owners of all levels to participate.

Small businesses are critical to the US economy. But data on small businesses is limited—especially data on how and why small businesses seek financing. Through the annual Small Business Credit Survey (SBCS), the Federal Reserve Banks capture one-of-a-kind data on small businesses. The Fed is apolitical, independent, and decentralized, which puts it in a unique position to collect, analyze, and distribute this data.

Maui small businesses hit by this summer’s wildfires are getting financial support to participate in this year’s Hawaiian Airlines Made in Maui County Festival on November 3 and 4, 2023 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism’s (DBEDT) Community-Based Economic Development (CBED) program is providing $65,000 in grants to cover booth fees for vendors. The Hawaiian Airlines Made in Maui County Festival is an annual event presented by the Maui Chamber of Commerce to showcase products from the islands of Maui, Moloka‘i, and Lāna‘i.

Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT), and Innovate Hawaii/HTDC recently held Small Business Resource Seminars on O‘ahu and Hawai‘i Island and an on-line session for Maui. Programs like CBED, EZ, HiSTEP, MAP, MEP, SBIR were presented to the small business community and provided an overview of possibilities to help and grow their business. 

The Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture, a nonprofit with the mission of improving the quality of life for Native Hawaiians, opened its Center for Entrepreneurship in Kapolei on March 31. The center, which primarily serves the west side of Oahu, supports “family-owned community-based businesses to increase their capacity to succeed,” Program Director Lisa Pakele told Pacific Business News.

Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC) is a tuition-free program designed to help small business owners. COMING VIRTUALLY TO HAWAI'I ON OCTOBER 12TH AND 14TH! Thanks to the support of Kaiser Permanente, the ICCC program will take place virtually in Hawai'i over two half-days on the morning of Tuesday, October 12th from 8:00 AM - 12 Noon Hawaii Time and the morning of Thursday, October 14th from 8:00 AM -12:30 PM Hawaii Time. Learn more about the ICCC Hawai'i Program here.