United Local School District Superintendent Lance Hostetler received some very good news on Friday.

The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission approved $28,970,346 in state funding for plans to build a brand new building for the systems elementary, middle, and high school for the district’s 1,150 students.

The district is responsible for raising another $20,131,935 for the project. However, Hostetler says that money will not come from additional taxes, but from revenue generated by the new Nexus gas pipeline and compression station in the district.

Plans call for demolishing some of the buildings constructed as early as 1950.  The current gymnasium and auditorium would remain.

Hostetler tells 21 News that the next move is to hire an architect sometime this summer.

Funding awards are contingent upon State Controlling Board approval.

The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission oversees capital projects undertaken by state agencies and state-supported institutions of higher education; manages Ohio's school facility programs which provide support for the construction and renovation of public K-12 schools; and administers the funding for community-based cultural and sports facilities projects.