MEDIA RELEASE

Hawaii Island Community Development Corporation (HICDC) and Hawaii Island Adult Care, Inc. (HIAC) have broke ground for the construction of infrastructure for the future new home of the Hilo Adult Day Center.

The funding for the infrastructure road and utility work is provided through a grant-in-aid from the state Legislature and the county Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.

Funding has been secured during the past two legislative sessions totaling $1.385 million towards the entire project.

Additional funding for construction of the new facility has been committed by Matson Foundation, Cooke Foundation Limited, LGA Family Foundation, Hawaii Electric Light Company/HEI Charitable Foundation, and numerous individual donors.

Construction of the new building will take place once fundraising efforts are completed. This is a joint project of the two 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporations.

The HIAC Hilo Adult Day Center is currently operating in the old Hilo Hospital on Rainbow Drive.

This present structure, built in 1924, is inadequate to serve the current or future needs for the growing Day Center over the next 60-70 years.

The HIAC Board of Directors have long sought an alternative location and are elated that the project is picking up momentum.

Plans for the new facility have being drawn.

The future home of the Hilo Adult Day Center is adjacent to the Mohouli Heights Senior Neighborhood project. The 60-unit senior housing project, developed by the Hawaii Island Community Development Corporation represents the initial phase of an eventual 15.9-acre senior complex and up to an additional 90 senior residential housing units.

The 15.9-acre site fronting Komohana Street was conveyed by the state through Executive Order to the county in 2008 for the purpose of developing a senior housing complex and related uses.

The county in turn leased the site to HICDC in 2009 and HICDC secured the necessary funding commitments in 2011.

The Hawaii Island Community Development Corporation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to assist low and moderate income residents of the Island of Hawaii obtain affordable housing.

The two programs being carried out are self help housing and senior rentals, both of which are oriented to low income households.

To date the Hawaii Island Community Development Corporation has worked with 284 Big Island self help builders to complete their homes, including projects in Kohala, Kailua-Kona, Pepeekeo, Keaukaha, Panaewa, Keaau and Mountain View.

Senior rental projects have been completed in Hilo, Waimea, Kapaau and Kailua-Kona totaling 248 units.

All together the Hawaii Island Community Development Corporation has developed 532 affordable housing units on Hawaii Island.

HIAC’s mission is to provide quality care for elders and challenged adults, and support for their families on the island of Hawaii.

HIAC, with its Hilo and Honomu Adult Day Centers provides adult day care for frail elders, cognitively impaired and challenged adults; thus giving them the opportunity to remain living in their own homes, preventing premature institutionalization and providing independence, dignity and self-worth.

An additional focus is providing needed respite and/or the opportunity to continue employment for caregivers and families.

— Find out more:
www.hawaiiislandadultcare.org