A $100,000 grant has been awarded to the Kauai Economic Development Board to help fund a proposed multipurpose creative technology hub.

The grant by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration will be used to support the Kauai Creative Technology Center that is slated to be built near the War Memorial Convention Hall in Lihue.

“We are so excited about this,” said Susan Tai Kaneko, president and CEO of the Kauai Economic Development Board. “The KCTC will be the nexus to bridge our local talents with high-caliber training, education and networking.”

More than a decade ago, county officials and several community members started discussing a project to build a creative technology facility as part of the Kauai Economic Development Plan-Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy.

Kaneko said the center is proposed to be 8,000 to 12,000 square feet and offer an array of classes and workshops in music, film, animation, software development, graphic design, technical assistance and business development training.

In a news release, George Costa, director of the county’s Office of Economic Development, said the project will “provide a facility for our students and aspiring writers and producers here on Kauai today.”

A construction start date has yet to be determined. The center is expected to cost an estimated $10 million to $12 million and generate at least 160 jobs.