OAKLAND CITY — Construction on the Regional Cities project is set to begin this summer, according to Oakland City Mayor Hugh Wirth.
Wirth said he has been in communication with Oakland City University President Ray Barber and OCU Vice President for Administration and Finance Robert Yeager, as well as engineers on the project.
The Regional Cities Initiative designated $42 million for the Southwestern Indiana region, which includes Vanderburgh, Gibson, Warrick and Posey counties.
Last year, the Regional Cities grant money was approved by the state and the Indiana Economic Development Corp. “There were three components to the project— local money, the state Regional Cities initiative and then private money.
“We are now seeking money from the USDA in rural development funds for the project which would be considered the ‘private money," said Yeager.
Total estimated cost is about $15 million.
Yeager says they hope to begin construction this summer and finish in the fall of 2018.
Officials say the OCU alumni center and retail space will be at Williams Street, between First and Second Street.
About 6,000 square feet of retail space is planned, and the student housing will boast 100 beds.
Currently, about 2,300 students are enrolled at the university, and 300 students live on campus.
"They have the footprint laid out and it's going to be pretty impressive," said Wirth.