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Business Development Program

The Business and Community Economic Development Program facilitates the development of a sustainable economy that enhances the standard of living of the residents and the economic viability of businesses in Hawai‘i County.

Contact Information

Photo of Kailua-Kona from Kailua Village Business Improvement District (KVBID)

Jane Horike

Economic Development Specialist
Telephone: (808) 961-8496
Fax: (808) 935-1205
E-mail: jhorike@co.hawaii.hi.us

Background

The Island of Hawai'i occupies 62 percent of the total land area of the Hawaiian Islands, or 10,500 square kilometers, but is home to only 13.5 percent of the state's population, or roughly 175,000 permanent residentsi. Hawai‘i Island experienced rapid growth: between 1984 and 2004 the Island's resident population grew 36 percentii, or 15 percent in the last decade.

Like the state of Hawai‘i as a whole, after an 11-year expansion Hawai‘i Island's economy has considerably slowed down. Lower demand in tourism, construction, retailing and other sectors have led to a flat job count, layoffs and rising unemployment (10.4%iii) in Hawai‘i County as of June 2009.

According to the data provided by State of Hawai‘i, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, as of January 2009, there were 78,800 employed labor force on Hawai‘i Island. Four sectors (construction, tourism, government, educational and health care) provided about 70 percent of total island jobs.

Program Goals

    1. To assist existing businesses in attaining sustainability in Hawai‘i's economy.
    2. To encourage and support the development of sustainable new industries in Hawai‘i County.
    3. To assist in building a competitive workforce in Hawai‘i County.
    4. To foster community-based economic development to build sustainable communities.

Program Focus Areas

The Economic Development Program focuses on three key areas to work towards its goals:

      • Plan - Participate in the update of County's Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).
      • Implement - Facilitate the implementation of the economic development programs through funding awards, promotion of business incentives and technical support.
      • Policy - Advise, draft and/or monitor local and state policies related to economic development.

iSource: U.S. Census Bureau, POPULATION (July 1, 2008) of Hawai‘i Island is 175,784

iilbid, "Table 1.1 - RESIDENT POPULATION, STATE OF HAWAI‘I, BY COUNTIES: 1980, 1983 to 2004."

iii10.2% unemployment rate for County of Hawai‘i as of March 2009 - State of Hawai‘i Department of Labor and Industrial Relations - Research and Statistics Office http://hawaii.gov/labor/rs

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