Gov. Linda Lingle has released $987,000 to plan and design improvements to Hawai'i Community College's Manono Campus in Hilo.

Many of the facilities on the Manono Campus were built in the 1950s and are inadequately configured for present-day instructional requirements, according to a news release from the governor's office.

"It is important for upgrades to the Manono Campus to move forward as quickly as possible," Lingle said in the news release. "This project will give Hawai'i Community College students in Hilo access to improved facilities on a faster timeline, and enhance their educational experience as they pursue their degrees and prepare to enter the workforce," Lingle said in the release.

The planning and design phase of this project will include assessing existing campus buildings, renovation needs and program space requirements, and developing a phasing plan for building improvements.

The total cost of Phase 1 improvements, including construction, is estimated to be $7.7 million.

Planning and design is scheduled to begin in October and be completed in July 2009. Construction is scheduled to begin in September 2009 and be completed in August 2010.