The Michigan-based Kresge Foundation has awarded a $250,000 challenge grant to support construction of the Building Industry Association of Hawaii's $7.75 million training center in Waipahu.

The grant for the Construction Training Center of the Pacific will be awarded if the remaining $731,300 in funding needed for the project is received by April 30.

The Kresge Foundation, based in Troy, Mich., is a $3.1 billion private, national foundation that supports nonprofit organizations in six fields: health, the environment, community development, arts and culture, education and human services.

The Construction Training Center of the Pacific will provide pre-apprenticeship and continuing education for the construction industry.

ISLE INDEX ENDS 17-MONTH PLUNGE

Hawai'i's string of 17 consecutive months of declines in an index of economic indicators ended in July when the index was unchanged, perhaps indicating the state's recession may be on the wane.

The coincident index, produced by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, shows Hawai'i's index didn't change during the month and compared with a decline in the national coincident index average of 0.2 percent

The index measures economic indicators thought to closely coincide with the overall economy such as jobs, unemployment, average hours worked in manufacturing and inflation-adjusted income.

BELT COLLINS RESHUFFLES TOP MANAGEMENT

Belt Collins Hawaii Ltd., one of the state's leading planning, design and consulting firms, has announced a number of top management changes.

Cheryl Palesh was elected as chairman by the company's board of directors, assuming the position from Anne Mapes, who is now chairman emeritus and principal.

Current President Michael Terry takes on the additional title of chief executive officer, a position previously held by Mapes. And Gene Yong was promoted to vice president and senior project manager.