The DeKalb County Exposition Authority Board is waiting to see if it will receive a possible $12.3 million in state funds for a proposed civic center.

NIU would be a “primary tenant” of the civic center, said Kenneth Beasley, assistant to NIU President John La Tourette. Beasley said NIU basketball games and concerts would take place there, as well as county agricultural shows.

“I’m hopeful we’ll know no later than March if we are certified and where we rank,” DeKalb Mayor Greg Sparrow said. He said if the proposal is certified and has a high ranking, the board will probably receive the requested sum of money.

The Board of Regents has approved $4 million to the estimated $16.3 million project, Sparrow said. The board governs NIU, Illinois State University in Normal and Sangamon State University in Springfield.

The center will be located west of Stevenson Towers and will seat 9,000 for basketball games and 10,500 for concerts, Beasley said.

An application for certification was sent to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs in late July, Sparrow said. The board received a letter Oct. 14 requesting further information on the proposed civic center, Sparrow said.

The board had 30 days to respond to the questions issued by the DCCA, but because of a large number of applicants requesting money, the DCCA extended the deadline by 90 days, he said. Information was returned to the state Feb. 13, Sparrow said.

If the money is received, the board will search for an architect, engineer and contractor, Sparrow said. He said the civic center should be completed in about two years.

DeKalb City Manager Mark Stevens said the city will commit $1 million toward storm sewers and road improvements for the center. However, the city’s funding will not include construction of new roads, he said.

Sparrow said he hopes the center will produce added revenue for DeKalb merchants and retailers.