A new Muslim school and community center is expected to open by June 2016 in Columbia.
The Columbia Daily Tribune reports the 14,000-square-foot building will have nine classrooms on the top floor for the Islamic School of Columbia. The bottom floor will include the school's administrative offices, a multipurpose room, a kitchen, a free health clinic and space for Friday prayers.
The project is expected to cost at least $2 million.
Groundbreaking for the project at the Islamic Center of Central Missouri was held Friday.
Mohammad Eldeib, chairman of the center's board of trustees, said the groundbreaking was a historic moment for Columbia's Muslim community. He says the new center will be important to the community's younger generation.