HONOLULU – Gov. Linda Lingle has released $300,000 to the Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) to develop a dedicated center that will provide science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and training to prepare Maui County's workforce for future career opportunities.

MEDB will use the grant-in-aid to equip the Ke Alahele Science and Technology Center to offer technology workforce development programs in STEM fields. The funds will also be used to extend its program outreach to rural communities, including Lana'i, Moloka'i and Hana.

Since 2006, MEDB's Ka Alahele Education Fund has helped to strengthen Maui County's education-to-workforce pipeline for science, technology, engineering and mathematics, according to a news release from Lingle's office. So far this year, more than $66,000 has been awarded to 19 recipients whose programs will impact over 1,000 students and educators in Maui County.

Jeanne Skog, president and CEO of MEDB noted that the state grant will enable their board to leverage partnerships from both the public and the private sectors to further enhance nationally renowned programs such as Women in Technology.

The state grant will be leveraged with a grant from the federal Economic Development Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce, as well as funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Maui County, A & B Foundation, and the Bank of Hawai'i Foundation.