STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2325

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2158

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Economic Development and Taxation, to which was referred S.B. No. 2158 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate $542,910 in fiscal year 2008-2009 to support the statewide economic development program of the Hawaii Small Business Development Center Network hosted by the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo.

     Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.

     Your Committee finds that small businesses represent a very important part of our island economy, and studies indicate that small businesses, particularly those with four or fewer employees, are the primary creators of new jobs in an economy.  Established in 1990, the Hawaii Small Business Development Center Network is the only statewide small business technical assistance provider.  With five service centers on four major islands, the centers help Hawaii's small business ventures succeed and expand through quality consulting, business training and advocacy efforts.  Your Committees are supportive of these efforts and the Network's contribution to the success of Hawaii's small business community.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development and Taxation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2158 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development and Taxation,

____________________________

CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair