Kauai Economic Development Board

What Kauai Economic Development Board does

Kauai Economic Development Board (KEDB) is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1984 and headquartered in Lihue, Hawai'i, whose stated mission is to broaden and strengthen the economy of Kaua'i through collaboration across business, education, and government. The organization operates a portfolio of education and workforce development programs rather than a single product, including work-based learning programs reaching 4,000+ students across all 6 schools on Kaua'i and 50+ partner organizations, the Ka Pewa Youth Leadership Summit (200+ students), the AI Workshop Series (delivered with the Kauai Chamber of Commerce and the SBA), a 15-month Cybersecurity Education Cohort, and the Small Business Energy Efficiency Grant program administered in partnership with Kaua'i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC). It also funds targeted scholarships such as the Nursing Scholarship for kupuna care (up to $2,000).

KEDB runs the Kaua'i Creative Technology Center (KCTC) in Waimea, a renovated facility housing AI and digital animation programs, a photo and film studio, cybersecurity training space, a Pearson VUE test center, an E-sports lab, meeting/work space, and agriculture technology programming. Its physical footprint now spans a Lihue headquarters (1824 Haleukana Street) and the KCTC facility at 9565 Kaumualii Highway in Waimea.

Revenue mechanics are mixed rather than commercial in nature: KEDB derives income from Executive ($5,000/yr) and Associate ($1,000/yr) membership tiers, restricted and unrestricted grants (including a reported $650K KCTC grant in 2022 and a $200K NIST award in April 2024), fundraising events (e.g., the 2025 Aloha ʻIke Gala), and program-specific co-funding via partners such as KIUC and the SBA. The organization is governed by an Executive Committee whose membership spans Corteva Agriscience, First Hawaiian Bank, KIUC, Matson, the Kaua'i Visitors Bureau, Belles Graham LLP, and Niu Pia Land Company, giving KEDB cross-sector convening authority that is effectively unique on the island.

Name

Kauai Economic Development Board

Legal name

Kauaʻi Economic Development Board, Inc.

Website

https://kedb.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kauai Economic Development Board (KEDB) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1984 that delivers workforce development, youth education, and small business support programs across the island of Kaua'i. It serves students, local businesses, and member organizations, and operates the Kaua'i Creative Technology Center (KCTC) in Waimea.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Computer Training (611420), Technical and Trade Schools (61151)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Career & College Readiness Platforms (Guidance, Planning, Scholarships) (EDAJAMAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Instructional Delivery & Pedagogy (School-Led) (EDAJAFAB), DevOps, SRE & Platform Engineering (EDAOAIAD)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Workforce development programs
• Youth education programs
• Nonprofit community development
• Small business support

Headquarters

HQ city

Lihue

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: KEDB generates revenue through membership fees at two tiers: Executive Members at $5,000 annually and Associate Members at $1,000 annually. Members receive benefits including participation in annual general membership meetings, newsletter access, priority access to new programs, networking opportunities with business and community leaders, and promotional logo exposure on the website.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

KEDB is a nonprofit economic development organization that delivers workforce development training, youth education, and small business support programs across Kaua'i. Its flagship physical asset is the Kaua'i Creative Technology Center (KCTC), a renovated facility offering AI/digital animation, cybersecurity training, photo and film studio, e-sports lab, and Pearson VUE certification testing. KEDB also runs membership programs for businesses, the Small Business Energy Efficiency Grant, career exploration events, the AI Workshop Series, the Cybersecurity Education Cohort, and the Ka Pewa Youth Leadership Summit.

Product overview

Kauai Economic Development Board (KEDB) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1984 to broaden and strengthen Kaua'i's economy. The organization operates as a platform of workforce development and economic programs rather than a unified software product. Its core offering is the Kaua'i Creative Technology Center (KCTC), a renovated facility supporting creative industries and technology workforce development. KEDB's portfolio includes education programs (AI Workshop Series, Cybersecurity Education Cohort, Summer Internship, Career Fairs, Reality Fair) targeting youth and workforce development, membership programs for businesses, and community events like the Aloha 'Ike Gala. The AI Workshop Series provides practical AI training, while the Cybersecurity programs build digital security skills. KCTC offers facilities including AI/digital animation studios, cybersecurity training, E-sports lab, photo/film studio, and meeting spaces, functioning as the physical hub for technology and creative programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kaua'i Creative Technology Center (KCTC): A newly renovated facility dedicated to fostering workforce development and economic growth on Kaua'i, focusing on equipping residents with vital skills for emerging industries, promoting innovation, and creating job opportunities through technology and creativity.

Products and services

• Kaua'i Creative Technology Center (KCTC) A newly renovated workforce development facility dedicated to fostering economic growth on Kauai through creative and technology industries. Features AI/digital animation programs, cybersecurity training, photo/film studio, E-sports lab, Pearson VUE test center, meeting/event space, and entrepreneurship hub. Available to Kauai residents, students, businesses, and community organizations.
• AI Workshop Series Hands-on workshop series presented in partnership with Kauai Chamber of Commerce and SBA to equip local businesses, nonprofits, and professionals with AI knowledge and practical tools for integrating artificial intelligence into their work. Led by AI specialist Gabriel Yanagihara.
• Cybersecurity Education Cohort A 15-month transformative program equipping Hawaii high school and post-high school students with skills and experience needed to launch careers in cybersecurity through hands-on training, mentorship, and real-world projects covering threat detection and security automation.
• Summer Internship Program Workforce development program for high school and college students aged 15-21 offering hands-on experience across various professional fields, career exploration, skill building, and industry connections.
• KEDB Membership Program Annual membership program offering Executive Member ($5,000) and Associate Member ($1,000) tiers, providing network access, newsletter, priority program access, business connections, committee participation, and promotional logo exposure on the KEDB website.
• Small Business Energy Efficiency Grant Program Grant program administered by KEDB covering a percentage of labor costs for energy efficiency upgrades for eligible small businesses on Kauai, operated alongside KIUC's Commercial Retrofit Program which funds material costs. Available first-come, first-served through December 31, 2026.
• Nursing Scholarship Scholarship program for current or aspiring nursing students on Kauai interested in kupuna care, offering up to $2,000 reimbursement for covered training, coursework, and travel expenses for CNA programs and nursing prerequisites. Applications reviewed on a rolling basis until funds are awarded or June 30, 2026.
• Ka Pewa Youth Leadership Summit Youth-led one-day event empowering over 200 Kauai high school students through panels, workshops, and a Resource Fair with community leaders, curated with Kupu Kela Kela Kauai Internship Program participants.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,000+ students participated in work-based learning programs
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability11 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Kaua'i Island Utility CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKIUC partners with KEDB to manage the Small Business Energy Efficiency Grant program, which covers labor costs for energy efficiency upgrades for eligible small businesses. This partnership complements KIUC's Commercial Retrofit Program that funds material costs.
• Kauai Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKEDB partners with the Kauai Chamber of Commerce and SBA to present the AI Workshop Series, designed to equip local businesses, nonprofits, and professionals with knowledge and tools to integrate artificial intelligence into their work.
• Small Business Administration (SBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBA partners with KEDB and the Kauai Chamber of Commerce to present the AI Workshop Series for local businesses and working professionals.
• Kupu Kela Kela Kaua'i Internship ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKEDB collaborates with the Kupu Kela Kela Kaua'i Internship Program to curate youth leadership programming, specifically for the Ka Pewa Youth Leadership Summit.
• Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKEDB partners with Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School for Career Day events where businesses and professionals share career insights through classroom presentations and hands-on demonstrations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Pacific Gateway Center: Pacific Gateway Center is a Honolulu-based workforce development nonprofit providing job training, ESL, and small-business incubation services for immigrant and local communities. Its workforce training intensity and small-business support mission overlap with KEDB's KCTC vocational and AI/cybersecurity training, but it serves a more urban demographic on Oahu.

Direct peers

• Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB): Maui Economic Development Board is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on Maui that closely mirrors KEDB's mission — fostering economic diversification, youth workforce development, and innovation. MEDB runs its own Ke Alahele Education Fund and programs targeting AI, cybersecurity, and STEM education, making it the closest comparable operating model in Hawaii.
• Junior Achievement of Hawaii: Junior Achievement of Hawaii is a youth-focused nonprofit delivering K-12 career readiness, financial literacy (including reality fairs), and work-readiness programs statewide. JA Hawaii's Reality Fair and career exploration programming directly overlaps with KEDB's Career Awareness, Career Day, and Reality Fair offerings.
• The Kohala Center: The Kohala Center is a Hawaii Island-based community nonprofit advancing resilient, island-focused economic, food, and educational initiatives. Its rural community development, youth leadership, and place-based training approach closely parallels KEDB's Kaua'i-focused mission.
• Goodwill Industries of Hawaii: Goodwill Industries of Hawaii operates statewide workforce development, job placement, and youth career readiness programs — directly comparable to KEDB's work-based learning, internships, and career exploration programs but at broader geographic scale.

Broad incumbents

• Hawaii Workforce Development Board: Hawaii Workforce Development Board is the state-level convening body under the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations overseeing workforce policy and grants statewide. KEDB operates as a local implementation partner for similar WIOA-aligned programs (internships, career exploration), but at the state rather than county scale.
• Hawaii Community Foundation: Hawaii Community Foundation is the state's largest community foundation managing hundreds of millions in charitable assets, providing grants and scholarships statewide. It serves both as a peer (in distributing local impact funding) and as a potential grant source for KEDB's education and workforce programs.

Regional players

• Chamber of Commerce Hawaii: Chamber of Commerce Hawaii is the statewide business membership organization providing networking, advocacy, and small-business support — analogous to KEDB's membership tier model and small-business programming on a Honolulu-anchored, rather than Kaua'i-anchored, basis.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/people/Kaua%CA%BBi-Economic-Development-Board/61555712999775
• Instagraminstagram.com/kauaiedb
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kauai-economic-development-board

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kauai Economic Development Board