SBA community navigator pilot program

Strengthening Communities One Business at a Time

Following the SBA’s requested Hub-and-Spoke model, Maui Economic Development Board (皇冠体育官网) and several Hawaiian and Maui based Community Development organizations and  partners will provide training and technical assistance to businesses and entrepreneurs in underserved and remote locations in Maui County and the State of Hawaii thanks to a $1M U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) grant, called the Community Navigator Pilot Program.

The Program is designed to reduce barriers that underrepresented and underserved businesses, entrepreneurs, and those considering starting a business often face in accessing the programs they need to recover, grow, or start their businesses. Research shows that the amount of Community-based, Remote and Native-owned business is scarce in today’s market due to structural barriers Community-based, Remote and Native-owned businesses and entrepreneurs face in business ownership and creation. Rooted within the communities the Hub and Spokes are instrumental in reaching under-serviced and Native communities by providing culturally relevant, economic development services.

Acting as a “Hub,” 皇冠体育官网 will serve as a centralized, lead organization and leverage our long-standing relationships with other grassroots organizations as “Spokes.” Through this model, government resources will be more effectively distributed to reach small business owners and entrepreneurs in the underserved and remote Communities.

Through the Community Navigator Pilot Program, SBA is engaging with states, local governments, SBA resource partners, and other organizations in targeted outreach for small businesses in underserved communities. 

The program offers funding to nonprofits, state and local governments, universities, and tribal entities to partner with SBA at the center of a hub and spoke network. These hubs then support spoke organizations – trusted, culturally knowledgeable local groups and individuals – who will connect to specific sectors of the entrepreneurial community to provide assistance during economic recovery, including:

    • financial assistance and access to capital
    • contracting and procurement
    • marketing, operations, business development, and exporting
    • industry-specific training

For additional information, see SBA’s Information Notice: Use of Community Navigators to Provide Technical Assistance

Funded (in part) through a grant with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.

meet the six maui county spokes:

 

Hawaii Small Business Developement Center

The Hawaii Small Business Development Center, established in 1990, provides professional business advice, research and training to business owners and new entrepreneurs in order to promote growth, innovation, productivity and management improvement.

Ho’aka Mana

Ho’aka Mana is a proud non-profit organization with the mission to inspire happier and healthier families through experiences and education based on Native Hawaiian practices.

Purple Maia

On a mission to inspire and educate the next generation of culturally grounded, community serving technology makers.

Women’s Business Economic Council

Women-owned businesses make up the fastest-growing segment of the national and international business world. That’s just one reason why WBEC-West is dedicated to helping you navigate the certification process. 

Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce

Members of the Chamber associate and work with other businesses committed to strengthening the position of the growing number of Filipino businesses on Maui. Educational seminars and workshops are offered throughout the year.

Lāna‘i Chamber of Commerce

Our main objective is to promote business and community growth and development by designing economic programs to strengthen and expand the income potential of all businesses on Lānaʻi.

meet the four maui county partners:

 

University of Hawaii Maui College

Affordable, convenient, and a haven for opportunity- At UH Maui College, we offer an array of degrees, certificates, and extended learning programs. 

Maui County Office of Economic Development (Kuaho)

The OED works in partnership with the community, business and government sectors to strengthen and diversify the economy by supporting existing businesses while assisting in the attraction, development and expansion of new businesses and events that will in turn provide new jobs for our community.

Voices of Micronesians of Maui

VoMOM is a coalition of people from the various islands in Micronesia seeking to empower and acculturate Micronesians by building bridges and relationships among the islands of Yap, Kosrae, Chuuk, Pohnpei, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau, according to an announcement.

Maui Economic Opportunity

MEO is a nonprofit Community Action Agency committed to helping low income individuals and families become stable and achieve economic security.

Weekly Seminars
Monday: Women of Health. 5:00PM, email info@a5service.com for more information
Tuesday: Minority Certifications. 12:00 PM (noon), email info@a5service.com for more information
Wednesday: Community, Business Coaching. TBD, email info@a5service.com for more information
Thursday: Community, Train the Trainer. 5:30PM, email info@a5service.com for more information
Friday: Community,  Vendor Diversity. 10:00AM, email info@a5service.com for more information
2022 SBA Community Navigator Programs: Event, Training, and Coach Schedule
Women in Business Seminar Series, January 12:00PM (noon)
Spoke Meeting, January
Women in Business Seminar Series, February 12:00PM (noon)
Women in Business Seminar Series. Kelly Ireland, CBT, and Barbara Myrick, B & M Construction talk-story, March 22nd, click here to register
Women in Business Seminar Series, April 12:00PM (noon)
Women in Business Seminar Series, May 12:00PM (noon)
Voices of Micronesia Conference, May 25th, in person
Women in Business Seminar Series, June 12:00PM (noon)
Lanai Business Conference, June 15th
Women in Business Seminar Series: 4 Woman-Owned Businesses in Hawai, July 21st at 12:00PM (noon), click here to register
Lanai Business Conference, July 12th
Women in Business Seminar Series, August 12:00PM (noon)
Molokai Business Conference, August 3rd
Women in Business Seminar Series: Large Companies have Vendor Diversity Requirements, Can you meet them?, September 1st at 12:00PM (noon), click here to register
Hana Business Conference, September, contact info@a5service.com for more information
Women in Business Seminar Series, October 27th at 12:00PM (noon)
Made in Maui Business Conference, October
Women in Business Seminar Series, November 17th at 12:00PM (noon)
Purple Mai’a Business Conference, November 22nd at Lanai
Women in Business Seminar Series, December 14th at 12:00PM (noon)
Community Business Conference, December

 

2023 Event, Training, and Coach Schedule
Women in Business Seminar Series, January 12:00PM (noon)
Community Business Conference, January
Community Business Conference, Febuary
Women in Business Seminar Series, Febuary 12:00PM (noon)
Community Business Conference, March
Women in Business Seminar Series, March 12:00PM (noon)
Women in Business Seminar Series, April 12:00PM (noon)
Community Business Conference, April
Women in Business Seminar Series, May 12:00PM (noon)
Community Business Conference, May
Women in Business Seminar Series, June 12:00PM (noon)
Molokai Business Conference, July
Women in Business Seminar Series, July 12:00PM (noon)
Community Business Conference, August
Women in Business Seminar Series, August 12:00PM (noon)
Women in Business Seminar Series, September 12:00PM (noon)
Community Business Conference, September
Women in Business Seminar Series, October 12:00PM (noon)
Community Business Conference, October
Women in Business Seminar Series, November 12:00PM (noon)
Community Business Conference, November
Women in Business Seminar Series, December 12:00PM (noon)
Community Business Conference, December

“皇冠体育官网 has the critical role of promoting, facilitating and leading economic development in a period of tremendous technological, environmental and demographic change.”

Clyde Sakamoto

University of Hawaii Maui College

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