The NEBRASKAland Days office will be getting a new home in very familiar territory.

NEBRASKAland Days Board of Directors President, Robbie Stefka, announced at a news conference Thursday morning, that the NEBRAKAland Days offices will be getting a permanent home at the Wild West Arena.

Thanks to a major contribution of labor from the construction students at North Platte Community College, construction is underway on a new 3,000 square foot office building on the west side of the Arena.

Stefka said the entire operation will be headquartered at the new location.

According to NEBRASKAland Days Executive Director, David Fudge, celebration officials have envisioned placing their offices at the Arena for decades.  He added that, thanks to a visionary Board of Directors, and a newly created partnership with North Platte Community College’s 2nd-year Building and Construction program, the vision is now a reality.

“Having our offices at the Arena will really be a huge advantage from an operations standpoint,” said Fudge.  “The amount of time we spend driving back and forth from our current office to the Arena is really mind boggling.”

Typically building houses, the NPCC Building and Construction students are now venturing into the commercial realm, where NPCC officials hope they will gain valuable experience in working with clients, contractors and overseeing the project as a whole.

NPCC area Vice-President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Jody Tomanek, said the partnership with NEBRASKAland Days came at a good time.

“Our second year construction students have already completed construction of a house and they are excited to be building yet another structure,” Tomanek said.  “The college crew will basically build the walls and enclose the new office building.   Then, NEBRASKAland Days’ subs (contractors) will do all the rough work.”

Tomanek added that it will be a hands-on real-world experience for the students.

“The college’s contribution to our facility is the reason we can make this project work,” said Fudge.  “Without them, we simply wouldn’t be able to make this happen.”

Fudge said the construction footings, foundation, power, water and sewer systems have been placed, and the structure will be built and enclosed before winter.

Organizers say the plan is for the project to be completed in time for the 2015 celebration.

The cost of the project is expected to be around $180,000.