LIHU‘E — Gov. Neil Abercrombie recently announced the release of more than $44 million for various capital improvement projects statewide, including $328,000 for Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital. “Since the start of 2012, my administration has released more than $885.8 million
LIHU‘E — Gov. Neil Abercrombie recently announced the release of more than $44 million for various capital improvement projects statewide, including $328,000 for Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital.
“Since the start of 2012, my administration has released more than $885.8 million for CIPs, including these newly released funds, as a part of an economic strategy to address priority work while stimulating the economy and generating job opportunities for residents,” Abercrombie says in a press release.
The funding released for Mahelona are to cover cost of design and construction work on walls and floors in the nursing units, according to the release.
The entire $44 million released will cover several CIPs statewide, including projects in public schools, health facilities, transportation infrastructure and more.
“Our local economy is back on track,” Abercrombie says. “Credit rating agencies have taken notice. And, the state’s unemployment rate has continued to improve, falling in October to a seasonally adjusted rate of 5.5 percent — a pre-
recession level.”
Kaua‘i might also benefit from a portion of $200,000 in state funds and a matching $800,000 in federal funds for the Intelligent Transportation System, to be implemented statewide.
Those funds will be used for planning for the development of an approved regional architecture phase of an envisioned ITS for the Kaua‘i, Maui and Big Island highway districts, according to the release.
Abercrombie also released $1 million for planning for the “orderly development” of correctional facilities statewide, including assessment of all Department of Public Safety correctional facilities to determine whether to renovate or construct new facilities.
The release does not say how much Kaua‘i would get from this line item.
No funds will be used toward Kaua‘i’s public schools ($10.4 million for schools statewide), Lihu‘e Airport ($1.4 million for O‘ahu airports, $8.36 million for Maui’s Kahului Airport and $600,000 for Kona Airport) or Nawiliwili Harbor ($500,000 for Honolulu Harbor).
Abercrombie also released $3.3 million to Maui Memorial Medical Center, the only other state hospital that will receive CIP funds from this package.
The portion of the funds addressing highways totals $6.43 million statewide, including the $200,000 for the ITS planning.
Other projects statewide will receive $12.38 million, and that includes the $1 million for correctional facilities.
