About HACBED

The Organization

The Hawai`i Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development (HACBED) is a statewide federally tax-exempt non-profit organization established in 1992 to encourage increased investments in sustainable and community-based approaches to economic development.

HACBED's mission is to maximize the effectiveness of people working in communities and the non-profit sector to build a healthier and safer Hawai`i through community-based economic development.

HACBED pursues its mission by assisting community-based economic institutions that provide direct economic benefits to individuals, families, and communities. These institutions enhance investments in community to help build an economic structure in which communities can exercise greater control over their own futures.
HACBED supports community-based economic development by being a facilitator, catalyst, broker, and producer of training, technical assistance, advocacy, education, and research and development products and services.
Examples of HACBED's past activities include:

• playing a primary role in establishing the Hawai`i CBED Program in the State Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism;

• developing and establishing the Hawai`i Community Loan Fund, a nationally certified community development financial institution;

• organizing three state-wide CBED conferences (1992, 1993, & 1994) with public and private partners;

• conducting weekend CBED trainings (over 6 and 8 month periods) for more than 50 organizations (1993, 1995, 1999, 2000, and 2002); and

• introducing such CBED strategies as microenterprise development, Individual Development Accounts (IDAs), and strategies to Hawai`i through trainings, workshops, and forums.