Rejection of funding for the proposed DeKalb Civic Center that NIU would have shared with the DeKalb region is a disappointment for several NIU officials.

The Department of Commerce and Community Affairs rejected funding June 29 because NIU was considered a governmental institution and the funds were intended for public entertainment use. Because NIU was considered an anchor tenant of the center, the city could not fund the $16 million center on its own.

But, the rejection might be temporary since legislation that would allow NIU’s involvement in the center passed the Illinois General Assembly July 7.

“We felt the proposal was good and that it deserved to be funded,” said Ken Beasley, assistant to NIU President John La Tourette. “We hope the resubmitted proposal will be successful,” he said.

DeKalb would have used the center for agricultural shows while NIU would have used the center for athletic events.

“Hopefully it’s temporary,” Athletic Director Gerald O’Dell said of the rejection. “We in athletics are very interested in a facility where we can play,” he said.

O’Dell said such a center would have helped the image of the men’s and women’s basketball teams and recruiting for the teams.

The DeKalb County Metropolitan Exposition Authority voted Thursday night to resubmit the application with minor alterations by the deadline, July 31, said DeKalb Mayor Greg Sparrow.

Sparrow had felt NIU’s involvement in the center to be a plus, a guarantee of financial security for the civic center.

The Expo Authority will meet again July 26 to review the final proposal, Sparrow said.