Technology center closing in on goal

Montana State University-Northern is one big step closer to building a top-of-the-line technology center on its campus.

The Economic Development Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce awarded a $1 million grant to Northern for the Applied Technology Center the university plans to build.

Greg Kegel, dean of the College of Technical Sciences, said the center will be a major addition if final funding is found.

"It's going to be huge," he said. "It'll help everything."

The 2001 Legislature appropriated $2 million for the center, contingent on Northern raising $2 million more. The $1 mil...