Construction of a DeKalb County Civic Center appears certain as the project received major financial backing this summer.

The Board of Regents, NIU’s governing board, approved $4 million in Regency funds for the civic center’s construction and operating costs at the July 27 Regents meeting. The Board of Regents governs NIU, Illinois State University in Normal and Sangamon State University in Springfield.

The DeKalb County Exposition Authority Board voted in late July to apply for certification to receive $12 million in state funds for the center. DeKalb Mayor Greg Sparrow said the certification process takes between 60 and 90 days.

Ken Beasley, assistant to NIU President John La Tourette, said the center will be located immediately west of NIU’s high-rise residence halls. The facility will contain 9,000 seats for events such as basketball and 10,000 seats for rock concerts and similar events, he said.

At the July 27 Regents meeting, La Tourette said the DeKalb City Council has committed $2 million for the center’s surroundings, including any new roads the center’s design might require. The facility’s location on the NIU campus will require significant NIU participation and “generate the kinds of audiences” needed to make the center prosperous.