HILO, HI, Apr 27, 2011 -- State Director Chris Kanazawa recently announced the selection of several Community Facilities projects that are being funded in the Hawaii.

Two of the projects selected for an aggregate of $25,810 in grant funding in the State of Hawaii are branches of the Friends of the Library of Hawaii located on the Islands of Molokai and Lanai.

Funded projects announced today also include $18,078 for North Kohala Community Resource Center, and a $207,651 direct loan and $7,732 grant for The Storybook Theatre of Hawaii. Funds will be used to help renovate their separate visitor centers on the Big Island and Kauai, respectively.

Finally, Innovations Public Charter School Foundation will be receiving an $834,349 direct loan to assist in the purchase and renovation of its school campus in Kona.

According to Kanazawa, "We are very pleased that our programs help to improve the quality of life for rural residents of our State which continues to be our foremost goal."

The Community Programs funding announced today is being administered by USDA Rural Development which provides loans and grants to assist rural areas, and towns in developing essential public community facilities.

USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages more than 40 housing, business and community infrastructure and facility programs through a national network of 6,100 employees located in the nation's capital and nearly 500 state and local offices. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America. Rural Development has an existing portfolio of nearly $142 billion in loans and loan guarantees.

Additional information about rural programs is available at a Local USDA Rural Development Office, or on USDA's Web site at:  http://www.rurdev.usda.gov

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