REGENTS BREAK GROUND FOR SIKESTON EDUCATION CENTER

SIKESTON -- Southeast Missouri State University's Board of Regents broke ground Wednesday for the $4.8 million Sikeston Area Higher Education Center.

Gov. Mel Carnahan and Higher Education Commissioner Dr. Kala Stroup participated in the ceremony along with and local lawmakers.

Site work could begin this fall with completion by January 2000.

The 33,000-square-foot building will offer college courses and technical training. It will sit on a 25-acre site in the Sikeston Industrial Park.

Southeast and Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff will offer the college courses.

Carnahan called it "highly unusual" to have a venture that involves a four-year university, a two-year community college and a public school system. "This is the kind of collaboration we need," he said.

Sikeston Mayor William Mitchell said the project is a credit to the community. "This is a keystone of the educational development that is occurring in Sikeston," he said.

Funding for the project will come from a city sales tax, the state and private donations.

The groundbreaking followed a meeting of the Board of Regents at Sikeston City Hall. The regents approved the design and budget for the project.