In its fifth year of operations, the Moloka`i Enterprise Community prioritized fourteen of the projects in its original 10-year strategic plan for implementation. The EC Board accepted eight new projects that have a common thread within the 10-year strategic plan. Enterprise Community funds have been allocated to each of these projects as seed money, and project leaders are working to leverage these funds with a broad array of partners. In 2004 the EC Board forged ahead with strategic actions that underscored the core values and principles of Moloka`i’s vision. Some highlights are as follows:

• The EC Board sought projects with strong, active task leaders and deactivated projects or reallocated funds for those that were not moving,
• Working with the island’s largest private landowner, a highly adversarial relationship became a partnership, resulting in the donation of approximately 65,000 acres or one third of the island to the community for land trusts for conservations, economic development and affordable housing.   The land trust is expected to serve as a source of revenue for long-term sustenance of community and economic development begun by the EC.
• A federally qualified community health center was established to bring comprehensive services to this medically underserved area.. 

Moloka`i utilized USDA Rural Development Community Facilities, Rural Business Enterprise , Rural Business Opportunity , Distance Learning & Telemedicine, High-Cost Energy,  and housing funds to provide support for  preservation of a historic site, installation of a  renewable energy solar water heating systems for 300 eligible households, the establishment of the island’s only middle school, the building and operation of a substance abuse intervention service, and a community-based tourism plan.    

A total of $3,149,848 was leveraged in 2004 for both program and operational expenses. This amount does not include the $193,030 EC grant for 2004.  Since its designation as an Enterprise Community in December 1998, the Moloka`i EC has created a total of 63 new jobs. Twenty eight per cent of these jobs have been sustainable positions. Those that have been short-term have prepared their workers to obtain employment in the existing employment sector. In the area of governance and administration the Moloka`i Enterprise Community continues to be governed by a volunteer community board that is elected through a broad-based community election process. The board has formally met at least once a month to set policy and establish budgets for the EC funds appropriated through the USDA.  The EC  board formed its own independent 501©(3) organization, known as Ke Aupuni Lokahi (Leaders Working Together).  There is strong commitment to preserving current environmental and cultural amenities and lifestyles found on Moloka`i. The EC Board practices community driven and community based economic development to strengthen Moloka`i’s capacity for self-governance and self-determination. Ke Aupuni Lokahi believes that it will be able to achieve its primary purpose of empowering the Moloka`i community to control its own destiny.  

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