Gov. Linda Lingle has released a $50,000 grant-in-aid that will allow Maui Economic Opportunity Inc. to acquire a bus to provide services for individuals with medical, mental health and employment transportation needs.

Lingle previously released a $182,000 grant-in-aid to the group to provide non-emergency medical transportation services for patients requiring kidney dialysis treatment.

MEO is a nonprofit agency chartered in 1965 that provides services to low-income elderly, children and youth, persons with disabilities, immigrants and disadvantaged persons. The organization operates the county's largest transportation program, with 92 employees and 80 vehicles. The program's dialysis transportation service assists about 75 patients on Maui and five on Moloka'i.