Riverland Community College is set to announce plans to build an Early Education Center in Austin for more than $3 million.

Riverland President Terry Leas will announce the project Monday afternoon, according to a news release.

The college will convert 17,000 square feet of its West Building to house the childhood center that will serve about 200 full-time and 200 part-time children ages 5 and under.

The project is expected to be completed in summer of 2012.

The project has been described as an unprecedented local partnership between the private and public sectors.

The Hormel Foundation has helped secure the more than $3 million in funding.

The project addresses one of the top ten needs cited in recent United Way survey.