Gov. Linda Lingle released $6,109,000 yesterday to three community health centers around the state for capital improvement upgrades and new construction.

The three grants-in-aid will go to the Bay Clinic in Hilo, Community Clinic of Maui, and Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center.

The Bay Clinic will receive $1 million to design and construct a new Family Health Center. The funds will also go toward improvements to the existing Health Center and Kea'au Family Health Center. The Bay Clinic is the only Federally Qualified Health Center in east and south Hawai'i, and provides medical care and services to a population of approximately 14,000 residents who are medically underserved. An additional $701,000 in private funds will also be used for this project.

The Community Clinic of Maui will receive $1,359,000 to renovate an existing two-story, 36,000-square-foot building in Wailuku to replace the outdated clinic in Kahului. The new facility will allow the clinic to increase efficiency and expand high-quality primary care services to low-income Maui residents. In addition to the state grant, the clinic is securing $8,996,830 in federal and private funds.

The Wai'anae District Comprehensive Health and Hospital Board will use $3,750,000 in grant funding to make capital improvements to the main campus of the Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center. Upgrades and expansions will include adding treatment and specialized service rooms, as well as safety improvements to address deterioration of the 30-year-old building that houses emergency services. In addition to the state grant, other sources of funding include a $1,197,666 Community Development Block Grant and $200,000 in private funds. The governor previously released $4,946,000 (fiscal years 2005 and 2006) in grant funds to the health center.

The Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center is the only medical facility that is equipped to handle medical care and emergencies along O'ahu's Leeward Coast. The center has served the Wai'anae community since 1972, providing emergency medical services and wide range of other health and social services.