BELLEVUE, Nebraska – After two years of careful planning, officials broke ground on a conference center and adjoining hotel in Bellevue. The April groundbreaking for the 800-person Bellevue Conference Center and event center began the construction process expected to take one year.

The 25,000-square-foot conference center will sit next to the town’s Twin Creek shopping area. Renderings reveal the coming center’s tan and brown brick exterior with green accents. The center’s space will have the option of braking into five smaller rooms.

The connected Courtyard Marriott hotel will offer 122 rooms. Center and hotel officials predict the entire project will cost $22 million. The Bellevue City Council approved $7.4 million bonds last year.

For more information, read the Omaha World-Herald article or visit www.visitbellevuewashington.com/meetings.