What prompted MEDBs creation?
A conference on Maui’s economic future, held over 20 years ago, attracted the participation of Maui’s elected, business, and community leaders. They explored approaches Maui could take to strengthen its economy. Through presentations and workshops, the conferees determined that Maui’s economic future would benefit by diversifying into the high technology arena. It was believed that the high tech industry would create significant and rewarding job opportunities and an incentive for Maui’s youth to return home. The participants stressed the importance of developing the infrastructure needed to support high tech activity already in Maui and to attract high tech companies to locate to Maui. The conference concluded that the greatest likelihood of success in pursuing this mission was to create an institution whose focus would be assisting the County with pursuing this high tech future. Thus, MEDB was formed.
