DBEDT brings business resources to entrepreneurs statewide

Hawaiʻi entrepreneurs and small-business owners will have direct access to state business specialists during a series of free workshops on Hawaiʻi Island, Oʻahu and Kauaʻi beginning Sept. 22. The Hawai‘i Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism will also participate in the Innovate Maui Nui Conference on Maui on Sept. 23.

The workshops bring several business support programs together in each community, giving attendees an opportunity to learn about financing, grants, export assistance, manufacturing support, clean energy programs, Foreign Trade Zone resources and other services available to help businesses grow and reach new markets. Topics vary by location.

“Hawaiʻi has a range of programs to help businesses access capital, expand into new markets and strengthen their operations, but business owners do not always know where to start,” said DBEDT Director James Kunane Tokioka. “These workshops bring our teams into communities across the state so entrepreneurs have an opportunity to ask questions, make direct connections and find the resources that best fit their business.”

Programs represented at the workshops include the Community-Based Economic Development Loan Program, Enterprise Zone Program, Hawaiʻi State Trade Expansion Program, Manufacturing Assistance Program, Hawaiʻi Small Business Innovation Research Program, clean energy financing, Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy and Resiliency financing and Foreign Trade Zone import and export resources. Representatives and programs vary by location.

The schedule includes:

The events are free. Registration and additional information are available at invest.hawaii.gov/dbedt-workshop-2026.