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

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

(2)  Community-based enterprises play an importantpart in providing a diversification of opportunities for Hawaii's residents andcommunities;

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

(4)  Community-based enterprises have the potential toincrease self-determination, provide employment opportunities, strengthencommunity identity, retain and create community cultural anchors, and reinforcecommunity social, cultural, economic, and spiritual values, and are thus ofcrucial importance in securing the diversification of opportunities;

(5)  Programs to develop community-based enterpriseshave the potential to increase self-reliance and provide employmentopportunities to Hawaii's people;

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

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

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

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