This story started from a discussion of the Plano de Referência Urbanístico e Ambiental (PRUA) – Urban and Environmental Reference Plan – of Serra Grande where the need of having an economic development agency arose. The government, community leaderships and local organizations supported this idea.
 
The Istitute Arapyaú believed in this idea and formed the Comitê Assessor Voluntário - Voluntary Advisor Committee, composed by people of multidisciplinary fields, to create a financial implementation plan. Within the process of conception of this initiative, the committee concluded that to create a local economic advantage it would be necessary to strengthen not only the business but also the civil society organizations that are responsible for taking care of the territory. Providing credit, knowledge and assistance became a tool of this initiative.

In August, 2014 the group invited Roberto Vilela to implement the financial support and then was born Tabôa - Fortalecimento Comunitário, an non-profit association that promotes the autonomy of the communities by supporting the entrepreneurs, business and civil society organizations with programs focused on the economic and communitarian strengthen. It is moved by the belief that it I possible that the communities becomes inspirational models of sustainability, prosperity and life quality.

It started its operations in April 2015, in the district of Serra Grande, Uruçuca/BA and the communities around of the Parque Estadual da Serra do Conduru (PESC) – Serra do Conduru State Park. From 2017, it has broadened its operations to other communities situated in the district of Ilhéus, Uruçuca and Itacaré.