Dept. of Commerce disburses over $1 million to Kaua‘i center

U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye, D-Hawai‘i, announced last week that the Kauai Economic Development Board has been awarded a federal grant of nearly $1.1 million for a building renovation project that will help spur high-tech training and job development on the island.

“While the grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce is for the renovation of a building to house the Waimea Technology and Training Center, its benefits go far beyond bricks and mortar,” Inouye said, according to a press release. “The grant, in essence, supports the mission of the center. With a new, modern home, the center will have the facilities to better offer customized technology training.

“A tech-skilled workforce means opportunities for employment in the defense research and agricultural research industries. It can also serve as a lure for other tech companies to Kaua‘i, which is home to the Pacific Missile Range Facility,” the release states.

The center will also offer training to young adults preparing to enter the workforce.

The Economic Development Administration of the Department of Commerce will disburse the grant of $1,093,000. The total cost of the building renovation for the Waimea Technology and Training Center is estimated at $2,186,000.