First ‘Made In Maui County’ Festival Accepting Applications

County of Maui News Release

The inaugural “Made in Maui County” Festival will be held November 7 and 8 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Kahului, the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development announced. Approximately 6,000 to 8,000 residents and visitors are anticipated to attend the event, which will showcase a wide variety of made-in-Maui County products, including foods, produce, art, crafts, jewelry, fashion, gifts, collectibles and more in one location.

Planning for the first-ever festival is in full swing with vendor applications and sponsorship forms now being accepted on the event’s official website, MadeInMauiCountyFestival.com. The event is being presented by the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development in partnership with the Maui Chamber of Commerce.

“This new festival will benefit our local economy in many ways,” said Mayor Alan Arakawa. “Besides giving local merchants the chance to showcase and sell their locally produced items, it stimulates our economy as a whole by bringing in interested shoppers to our island. In other words, everyone benefits both directly and indirectly from the festival.”

Vendors must be based in MauiCounty and feature a minimum of 51 percent, value-added in Hawaii. Booth space will be assigned based on type of product and on a first-come, first-served basis. Vendor applications can be downloaded from MadeInMauiCountyFestival.com; click on “Vendors” button.

Sponsorship opportunities are another way for companies to show their support of MauiCounty’s entrepreneurs and their products while increasing visibility for their own business. To receive a Sponsor Packet, click on the “Sponsors” button on the festival website.

Patterned after the successful “Made In Hawaii” Festival, this new Maui County event offers greater opportunities for local businesses from Maui, Molokai and Lanai to participate.

“Not all businesses can afford to go to Oahu for the ‘Made In Hawaii’ festival,” said Teena Rasmussen, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development. “Costs for transportation, accommodations and staffing can quickly add up. That’s why this new event was created to make it more affordable and convenient for our local businesses to showcase their products right here at home.”

For more information, visit MadeInMauiCountyFestival.com, email info@MadeInMauiCountyFestival.com or call (808) 244-0081. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter (#MIMCF2014), Instagram and Pinterest.