University of Â鶹´«Ã½ Maui College’s (MFIC) was one of the winners of the . The Maui Food Innovation Center was awarded a $50,000 grant for pioneering and supporting local entrepreneurs. The Maui Food Industry X-celerator (MFIX) was a recipient of this same SBA grant in 2015.
“Winning the SBA Accelerator award for the second year in a row is a validation of Maui Food Innovation Center business mentoring program,” said Karl Fooks, president of the Â鶹´«Ã½ Strategic Development Corporation. “HSDC’s HI Growth Initiative is proud to help support MFIC’s efforts to help Â鶹´«Ã½ entrepreneurs achieve business success
The grant is part of the SBA 2016 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition, a cutting-edge federal program that supports initiatives to spur innovation, commercialization, entrepreneurship and job creation at the local level. The Maui Food Innovation Center is 1 of 68 awardees from 32 states to receive grants totaling $3.4 million dollars.
Funding will expand X-celerator program
The funding will enable the Maui Food Industry X-celerator to introduce its accelerator program to those agribusinesses, chefs and restauranteurs looking to develop a value-added food product. They will connect with food business industry experts and peers like themselves seeking to expand their revenue streams.
“The opportunity to expand our x-celerator program to this segment of the County of Maui community validates our work to advance our farmers/chefs and food entrepreneurs and our economy by building upon new revenue sources and creating more jobs,” said Chancellor Lui Hokoana.
For more, read the .