$1.8 million to help UH with project assistance

Advertiser Staff

The University of Hawai'i has been awarded $1.8 million in federal grants for programs to help spur economic development, according to Assistant Secretary Michael Liu of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The money is from HUD's Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian Institutions Assisting Communities Program, which helps colleges and universities to expand their role in dealing with community development needs.

The grants can be used to acquire property; clear, demolish and rehabilitate residential and commercial buildings; direct homeownership assistance to low- and moderate-income people; and establish community development corporations.

The Hawai'i grants will be used for:

• Leeward Community College — $579,586 for the two-year Wai'anae Organic Agriculture Initiative.

• West O'ahu campus — $599,875 for the creation of the Hana Marketplace on Maui.

• Windward Community College — $590,036 to begin the revitalization and redevelopment of Kuhio Park Terrace in Kalihi.

Liu, who heads the Housing and Urban Development's Office of Public and Indian Housing, also said $9.6 million from the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant Program is available.

That money will help the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands pay for affording housing programs, according to HUD.