Kealopiko Inc.’s Pareu (scarf) made of soft, thin organic cotton is among the Fashion & Apparel items found on the Made in Maui County Marketplace website at www.MadeInMauiCounty.com.

WAILUKU – Local businesses last week got a boost thanks to the official launch of a new online shopping resource called the Made in Maui County Marketplace, or “The Marketplace,” at www.MadeInMauiCounty.com.

The Marketplace is a project of the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) in cooperation with the County of Maui Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and the Maui Chamber of Commerce.

It was created to provide local businesses with an opportunity to showcase their Made in Maui County products year-round and to connect with prospective customers.

Items promoted as “Made in Maui County” must have at least 51 percent of their wholesale value added by manufacture, assembly, fabrication or production in Maui County, although products may include source materials made and/or found in the State of Hawaii. Businesses must also be headquartered on the islands of Maui, Molokai or Lanai.

Businesses who have participated and/or who have been approved as a Made in Maui County Festival product vendor are eligible to be included on The Marketplace.

“The Marketplace serves as a one-stop, online shoppers’ resource for wholesale buyers and consumers seeking locally made products,” said Teena Rasmussen, director of the County of Maui Mayor’s Office of Economic Development.

“Not only will visitors on this site discover a wide array of merchandise, but it also provides a directory for the public to connect with our local entrepreneurs throughout the year.”

Established in 2014, the annual Made in Maui County Festival was created to showcase locally made products; to help grow the islands’ independent businesses; and to help strengthen the community by encouraging job creation and diversification of Maui County’s economy. Today, the festival is Maui County’s largest products show.

This year’s Made in Maui County Festival will be held on Nov. 4-5 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Kahului.

Presented by the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and the Maui Chamber of Commerce, over 140 product vendors will offer a wide variety of foods, produce, art, crafts, jewelry, fashions, gifts, collectibles and more.

Additionally, on Saturday, 12 of Maui’s popular food trucks will be featured in the festival’s Food Court, offering a myriad of island-inspired menu items.

The 2016 festival will begin on Friday, Nov. 4, with a special “Shoppers Preview” from 1:30 to 6 p.m. All attendees will receive a free festival tote bag. Tickets ($35 per person) are available at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center Box Office via (808) 242-SHOW (7469) or MauiArts.org.

On Saturday, Nov. 5, the “Big Festival Day” will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Public admission is $5 at the gate; children 12 and under are free. Saturday’s festivities will include product demonstrations, fashion shows, food trucks and prize drawings. The first 2,000 attendees will also receive a free festival tote bag.

To connect with festival vendors, visit the Made in Maui County Marketplace website at www.MadeInMauiCounty.com.

For more information on the Made in Maui County Festival, visit www.MadeInMauiCountyFestival.com, e-mail info@MadeInMauiCountyFestival.com, or call (808) 270-7710. Follow the event on Facebook, Twitter (#MIMCF2016), Instagram, and Pinterest.