Casper College needs to expand, President Walter Nolte said at a community meeting on Tuesday.

"We have great space, great facilities," Nolte said. "But right now we are kind of stuck. We are in a dilemma. We have some significant space issues."

Casper College is proposing building three new facilities on its campus, which would expand instructional space by 14,000 square feet and free another 50,000 square feet for classrooms and labs.

The proposal is part of the college's 25-year master plan, which lays out how the college will expand in the future.

Proposed buildings include a new training and development center, music building, a larger student union and University of Wyoming-Casper College center.

The projects are estimated to cost about $70 million.

The college may put a general obligation bond on November's ballot, though board trustees haven't decided to seek a bond yet, said Susan Anderson, who is working on the bond campaign.

A general obligation bond is a debt secured by the "full faith and credit" of the issuing government and backed by revenues from its taxing power.

"This is the time to invest in our future," she said. "It's our chance to grab this great opportunity in the Wyoming economy."

Nolte said the college is focusing on those three buildings since there is a demand for them. Building a training center would allow for the expansion of the health sciences department.

Laura Driscoll, dean of continuing education and community partnerships, said businesses are coming in daily looking for qualified, trained employees. With a new training center, the college could more effectively meet the needs of the business community.

"As Dr. Nolte said, we are flat out of usable space," Driscoll said.

Reach education reporter Jasa Santos at (307) 266-0593 or at Jasa.Santos@trib.com.