A $1 million grant released by Gov. Linda Lingle will help the Hawai'i Building Industry Foundation build its training center in Waipahu.

The Construction Training Center of the Pacific will provide a permanent home for the foundation's continuing education and certification programs, as well as its Pre-Apprenticeship Construction Training program.

The nonprofit agency also offers tuition scholarships, with a focus on assisting underprivileged residents working multiple jobs to make a living wage.

Currently, the foundation borrows space from various organizations to hold its 12-week PACT program. New classes, of 12 students each, begin every six to eight weeks.

The new Construction Training Center in Waipahu will house multiple classrooms, a trade shop, a computer lab, a library, meeting rooms and a conference center, and will be large enough so that a new class starts every four weeks.

The total cost of the new center is estimated at $4.8 million. The remainder of the cost is being covered by funds from the federal Economic Development Administration and private donations. Construction is expected to be completed in March 2009.