Officials confident State Farm building will house new jobs by year's end by Scott Rogers - posted Wednesday, April 4th, 2007 @ 10:36 pm  E-mail Story |  Print Story  State Sen. Bob Kostelka is encouraged by the news that the former State Farm building may have tenants by the end of 2007. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Michael Olivier announced Tuesday that there are three prospects interested in moving into the old State Farm building off U.S. 165. On Tuesday in speaking to the House Appropriations Committee, Olivier said he expects to see the facility occupied "before this calendar year is out." Olivier suggested that those three companies - the larger one, a call center - would occupy the facility together, and employ at least 500 people. Kostelka was one of several local officials against the idea of tearing down the State Farm facility to build a new facility for Delta Community College. State Rep. Mike Walsworth also said previously that he knows Delta Community College needs a new location, but he believed the state could have done a better job of marketing the facility to attract businesses, which would provide private sector jobs for the Monroe/West Monroe economy. In response to Olivier's announcement, Kostelka said, "That is just great news. Frankly, I thought we could have better use for that building than to simply tear it down and build something else. The location is wonderful, and without having to tear down this building, we can bring in some more jobs. And, we still get the campus … I think that's a win-win, so I am very encouraged about it." In February, it was announced that the former State Farm site would not be home for the new Delta Community College campus. Dr. Joe May, president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, made that announcement during his visit to Monroe. He said the site is too small and it does not allow enough room for future growth. The state pays around $30,000 monthly to maintain the former State Farm building and property, which State Farm donated to the Ouachita Economic Development Corporation when it closed in 2005. In 2006, the state bought the property with intentions to demolish the facility and build new facilities for Delta. In January, OEDC finalized the sale to the state for $3 million. There are now several other locations in northeastern Louisiana where the new campus might be located. The current, proposed location, just east of Pecanland Mall off Interstate 20, is one that Kostelka believes will benefit the college as well as the community. He said that location will feature access off Millhaven Road as well as access off I-20 with the Garrett Road interchange.