Editor's note: This article has been revised to reflect the following correction, which appears in Tuesday's print edition.
The shooting sports center, on which Georgia Southern University broke ground Thursday, will be 30,000 square feet when complete, and the project is estimated to cost $5.8 million. Because of incorrect information supplied, those figures were wrong in a front-page article Friday.

More than two years ago, officials with Georgia Southern University and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources set their sights on creating a state-of-the-art Olympic-caliber archery and shooting complex on the Statesboro campus.

With support from various sponsors and a major financial commitment from the city of Statesboro, the University System of Georgia's Board of Regents approved the project earlier this year.

Thursday, representatives from all parties involved gathered on a tract of dirt and bush to officially break ground on the multimillion-dollar project.

The ceremony, which attracted more than 100 people, was held at the corner of Old Register Road and Veterans Memorial Parkway, across from Georgia Southern's recreational fields.

"This is, without question, one of the most unique facilities not only in our history, but the history of the United States. It will be the only facility of its kind east of the Mississippi, and one of only a handful in the country," University President Dr. Brooks Keel said in an address. "It will allow us to promote the shooting sports and all that those represent. Georgia Southern takes its role as a higher education institution very seriously. This, we believe, is a great example of how a higher education institution can reach out to the community and provide all sorts of opportunities for education and continuing education."

According to university officials, the approximately 30,000-square-foot center will be a hub for students, staff and members of the public who are interested in shooting and archery, either competitively or recreationally.

The approximately $5.8 million complex will feature a 16-lane indoor firearms range and a 16-lane indoor archery range, plus an Olympic-class outdoor archery range - a multipurpose combination found in only a few locations around the world.

It will serve as the home of Georgia Southern's recently formed women's rifle team and house several classrooms and coaches' offices.

"This center is an opportunity to play a major role in developing young hearts and minds, and future leaders for our state and nation," said Dr. Teresa Thompson, the university's vice president of student affairs and enrollment management. "We also dream that, in this part of Georgia, our program can be a catalyst for developing students that will one day represent this nation as Olympic champions."

Keel said students and people throughout the region will have access to ranges, and be able to participate in shooting safety and hunter's safety courses.

He hopes the facility will "draw attention from prospective students (in) all of the country who are interested in the shooting sports."

The center will be paid for through a combination of Georgia Southern funds, sponsor money, a $3.5 million grant from Georgia DNR, and about $500,000 in hotel/motel tax money provided by the city.

In addition to promoting shooting education, university and city leaders hope the project to be a major boon for economic development.

"This is economic development at its best. This Shooting Sports Center will be the epicenter of a number of opportunities to bring thousands of visitors to Georgia Southern and the city of Statesboro, along with all of the economic opportunities that it represents," Keel said. "This will give us a chance to host national and international competitions that will bring thousands of people to this community. Those individuals will be staying in our hotels, buying our gas and going to our restaurants. That is fantastic economic growth for this community."

As for the public participation, Mark Whitney, assistant director for DNR's Wildlife Resources Division, said there are more than a million recreational shooters in Georgia alone.

Public fees and student fees to use the center's ranges have not yet been determined.

Ajax Construction will build the facility over the next 12 to 18 months.

Jeff Harrison may be reached at (912) 489-9454.