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increased activity of Kilauea Volcano. Another indication of the County's slowly rebounding industry, is the fact that although total visitors to Hawaii for fiscal year 2010 was about even with fiscal year 2009, total visitors for the month of June 2010 was up by almost 9%from the prior year's June. Construction—The County's second significant industry is construction,which also began to show signs of recovery and even looked better for the Big Island than for the state overall in 2010. One important indicator of the sector's improving situation is the growth in private permits from a year ago, especially in Kona. Scientific Research and Development—Due largely to its unique geographic characteristics which has attracted scientists in fields of astronomy,meteorology,volcanology, and agriculture/aquaculture,the County has benefited economically by the significant investments made in scientific research. The total astronomy related capital investment on Mauna Kea exceeds $600 million and combined annual budgets are about$72 million. On July 21,2009,the TMT Observatory Corporation announced that its board of directors had selected Mauna Kea over Chile as the preferred site for the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT). It is projected that the TMT project will pour an estimated$1.2 billion into the economy over nine years,resulting in 300 construction jobs and 140 full-time permanent jobs. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority at Keahole, Kona are also major contributors to international research and the local economy. Major Initiatives For the Year During the year,the County focused on public works,planning, and other issues affecting the quality of life in the County. Public Safety—Construction began on the building that will house the Pahoa Police Station and an office for the Vehicle Registration&Licensing Division of the Department of Finance. Expenditures related to this project totaled almost$4.0 million at the end of the year. This project was in addition to the $5.4 million that was spent in recent years for the Pahoa Fire Station and related offsite improvements for the entire complex. The proposed development and construction of a new Fire Department Administration, Training, and Emergency Communications complex was presented before the Planning Commission and received a conditional land use approval. The County has hired Scientel Wireless as project manager to upgrade the County's current radio system to meet Federal Communications Commission(FCC) efficiency requirements. Public Works—Construction continued on the Waikoloa Housing project with an additional $7.5 million being spent during the fiscal year. Construction also continued on the 85,000-square- foot West Hawaii Civic Center on Kealakehe Parkway that began in 2008, and is scheduled for completion in January 2011. Total project expenditures reached$34.3 million at the end of the - 3 -