§210D-1  Findings and purpose.  The
legislature finds that:



(1)  It is in the best interest of the State to bring
about a diversification of opportunities in all aspects of life for the
residents and communities of the State;



(2)  Community-based enterprises play an important
part in providing a diversification of opportunities for Hawaii's residents and
communities;



(3)  Community-based enterprises are characterized by
their interests not only in profits but in community empowerment, that is,
building the community to enable it to be more self-reliant, which encourages
diversification of opportunities for Hawaii's residents and communities;



(4)  Community-based enterprises have the potential to
increase self-determination, provide employment opportunities, strengthen
community identity, retain and create community cultural anchors, and reinforce
community social, cultural, economic, and spiritual values, and are thus of
crucial importance in securing the diversification of opportunities;



(5)  Programs to develop community-based enterprises
have the potential to increase self-reliance and provide employment
opportunities to Hawaii's people;



(6)  Conventional financial institutions traditionally
do not provide loans to establish or expand community- based enterprises;



(7)  No present state agency or program has the
authority to financially assist community-based enterprises; and



(8)  The State should initiate a program to assist
community-based enterprises through loans, grants, and technical assistance.



The purpose of this chapter is to establish a
program of technical and financial assistance for community-based organizations
to assist the establishment and development of community-based enterprises in
the State. [L 1990, c 111, pt of §2; am L 1996, c 192, §2]