DBEDT strengthens Hawaii’s defense economy with new projects

For immediate release: July 15, 2021

Contracts to support cybersecurity compliance and create a defense alliance in Hawaii

HONOLULU — The State of Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) is pleased to announce three new projects that will focus on strengthening and growing Hawaii’s second economic engine, the defense sector. DBEDT has contracted with the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce’s Military Affairs Council (MAC) and local technology company Referentia, with a grant from the Department of Defense’s Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (DoD) for phase III of its Hawaii Defense Economy (HDE) project. DBEDT also contracted CyberHawaii to support local businesses in cybersecurity resilience.

“The emerging digital and clean energy in Hawaii is well aligned with the mission and purpose of Hawaii’s defense economy,” said Mike McCartney, director of DBEDT. “The defense sector will be the basis for economic diversification and responsible growth of the state by providing new jobs and small business opportunities for the state. Throughout the pandemic, Hawaii’s military defense sector remained the state’s second-largest economic engine, generating $ 3.4 billion in business revenue from $ 2.3 billion in federal contracts and supporting more than 18,000 jobs statewide. It is important that we continue to support our defense economy and increase the opportunities for local businesses to benefit from this stable and lucrative sector. “

The MAC has established a Hawaii Defense Alliance (Alliance) to bring together government, educational institutions and community resource partners across the state to work together to identify challenges within the local defense industrial base, propose solutions and increase business opportunities local. The Alliance will focus on initiatives in four areas: Support for Small Businesses, Workforce Development, Business Ecosystem Development and Market Development and Resilience.

“The Alliance’s goal is to connect defense-related stakeholders statewide to maximize partnerships and collaborations to create more employment opportunities, while increasing industry diversification. and economic resilience in Hawaii, ”said Jason Chung, vice president of military affairs. Advice. “We seek to establish a lasting foundation of programs and efforts in which we can continue to grow and grow beyond this contract. “

Repositories eResilience The division, which specializes in cybersecurity services for defense industrial bases, will launch its Hawaii Defense Economy Cyber ​​Compliance Education Program today, July 15, 2021. Available for until ‘To 500 Hawaii-based DoD entrepreneurs, the online education platform offers an educational webinar video to help entrepreneurs understand, differentiate, and navigate the various DoD cybersecurity contract requirements. For qualified companies, eResilience will also provide advisory support to up to 40 Hawaii-based DoD contractors who process Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and help them perform NIST800-171 compliance gap analysis for ensure continued eligibility for new rewards and prevent loss of contracts.

Navigating the new DoD cybersecurity regulations can be very intimidating and difficult, and our Hawaii Defense Economy Cyber ​​Compliance Training Program will help clarify the various DoD compliance mandates in cybersecurity, to prevent companies from losing or being able to compete for new DoD contracts, ”said Nelson Kanemoto, President of Electronic Resilience. “The free advisory support we provide to Hawaii-based DoD contractors who manage CUI will help businesses understand complex compliance requirements and meet their immediate obligations while learning to prepare for further application.” tighter cybersecurity around the corner with even harsher impacts, in the upcoming cybersecurity maturity model certification program.

To register and access the Hawaii Defense Economy Cyber ​​Compliance Education Program, visit defenseeconomy.hawaii.gov/.

DBEDT is also funding a contract with Cyber ​​hawaii to launch his Cyber ​​Ready Hawaii program in partnership with the Cyber ​​Security Preparedness Institute. The free program will provide training and mentoring for Cyber ​​Leader professionals who will help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) apply the basic cybersecurity hygiene and protection measures required to comply with the regulation. Federal Procurement (FAR) 52.204-21.

“Our Cyber ​​Ready Hawaii program trains and certifies entry-level cybersecurity professionals for the workforce and helps Hawaii businesses and nonprofits prevent and respond to cyber attacks, as well as meet DoD cybersecurity requirements when competing for federal contracts. Said Jill Tokuda, co-director of CyberHawaii.

To learn more about CyberHawaii’s Cyber ​​Ready Hawaii program, visit cyberhawaii.org/cyber-readiness/.

For more information on Hawaii’s military defense industry and DBEDT’s Hawaii Defense Economy Project, visit defenseeconomy.hawaii.gov/.

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About Hawaii’s Defense Economy

The Hawaii Defense Economy Project is developed by the State of Hawaii through the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) with support from the United States Department of Defense (DoD) – Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation. The project uses data from DoD contracts and grants awarded to the State of Hawaii to better understand the defense industry supply chain and improve the state’s response to future changes in military requirements and spending levels.

About the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT)

DBEDT is Hawaii’s resource center for economic and statistical data, business development opportunities, energy and conservation information, and the benefits of foreign trade. DBEDT’s mission is to achieve a Hawaiian economy that embraces innovation and that is globally competitive, vibrant and productive, providing opportunities for all Hawaiian citizens. Through its attached agencies, the ministry promotes planned community development, creates affordable housing for the workforce in high-quality living environments and promotes employment growth in the construction sector. innovation.

Media contacts:

Lea Okudara

808-729-6776

Charlene chan

Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (808) 824-0134 dbedt.hawaii.gov