Funding is short, but Bismarck State College is ready to start preliminary work on a new Career and Technology Institute. School officials aren't worried about raising almost $4 million more, citing the high demand for the institute.

The college has raised $8.2 million and will apply for state and federal grants to cover most of the remaining costs.

Building costs have increased, and the college has to raise an additional $2 million on top of the $10 million originally projected. The building will be three or four stories, depending on how much money is raised.

"We desperately need four stories, but it will depend on how much money we have," said Gordie Binek, vice president for college advancement and federal relations.

If there are three floors, the building will cover 75,000 square feet. If a fourth floor is added, the building will increase to 105,000 to 110,000 square feet.

The CTI building will be constructed southeast of the BSC Armory on seven acres donated by the city of Bismarck. The lot is valued at $1.2 million.

The building will house a Workforce Training Center, Higher Education Center and National Energy Technology Training and Education Center.

The major financial contributors have been energy companies. Binek said the college has been working closely with these companies to provide the type of education and experience they want students to have.

"There is a very high demand for these jobs as people are beginning to retire," he said. "Power plants in North Dakota and across the nation are being hit."

The college already has one power plant simulator worth more than $1 million and the CTI building will house other models to use for training.

Energy plants across the nation have taken an interest in BSC because of its "unique niche," Binek said.

BSC is the only known school to offer classes both on campus and through online courses.

"We have students from 49 states and one foreign country in our power plant program," he said. "That's pretty incredible."

The new building will double the number of students enrolled in energy courses on campus to around 220 and allow the faculty to teach more online courses.

Also included in this summer's construction plans is a new residence hall that will be built east of the women's dorm on the northeast corner of Schafer Street and Edwards Avenue.

The new dorm will house 125 female students and is expected to be completed by the beginning of the 2006 school year.

(Reach reporter Kayla Cogdill at 250-8251 or kaylacogdill@bismarcktribune.net.)