370 new jobs at UH due to state funding

Winners include students in nursing, education, pharmacy and construction

Taxpayer money from the state's general fund will pay for 370 new positions in the 10-campus UH system, said Howard Toto, the university's chief financial officer.

"We did quite well," Toto said. "We're very pleased and thankful to the Legislature for their support."

The university also got $8.7 million to train teachers, nurses and construction workers. About $5.4 million will go to Honolulu Community College to hire 46 instructors and create a construction academy to prepare students for jobs in the building industry.

The Legislature approved $1.4 million to hire staff and other costs for the startup of a new College of Pharmacy, which will begin accepting students next year.

The medical school got $2 million in general funds and $12.5 million in construction money for the state's share of the costs for a new regional biocontainment lab, which will likely be built next to the medical school in Kakaako.

In addition, the Cancer Research Center will likely see $10 million to $12 million a year from a new cigarette tax taking effect in November. That money will pay for the cost of leasing back space in a new, privately funded research center in Kakaako and for operating expenses.

Among the university's priorities going into the legislative session was fixing its buildings and addressing a backlog of deferred maintenance.

The Legislature gave the university about $30 million for repair and maintenance and to address health and safety code requirements, Toto said.