Some Centre County nonprofit organizations have formed a partnership to obtain a downtown building that would cater to all of the groups' needs -- but there is already controversy over a suggested location.

Debbie Klevans, a representative of the Collaboration of Arts, Social Services and Education (CASE), presented the new cooperation at the State College Borough Council work session Monday.

Klevans said CASE was formed because many groups -- such as the United Way, Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, Historical Society and Nittany Symphony -- have been frustrated with facility constraints at their current locations.

"We need a site that is appropriate in size if we are to retain the interest of the organizations, which serve both Centre County and beyond," she said.

The CASE organization has not yet chosen a specific site or building for the proposed collaboration but hopes to include features such as studio spaces for lessons and rehearsals, kitchens, classrooms, a bookstore and computer labs, Klevans said.

"We anticipate it will be used morning through night at least six days a week," she added.

CASE is seeking to receive funding from the 2007 state budget and a community revitalization grant for aid in building the center, Klevans said.

Borough Council member Jeff Kern said he made a suggestion after the work session to combine the CASE project with the Fraser Centre project because it would make sense for the two organizations to collaborate to increase the chances of obtaining state funding, which both groups are pursuing. However, Downtown Improvement District (DID) Director Teresa Sparacino, who is organizing the Fraser Centre project, said that Kern's suggestion for the CASE facility be located above the intended 10-screen cinema would not decrease the either of the projects' costs.

"If you want to topple a project immediately, then you add something like this [CASE project]," Sparacino said.

Sparacino said she did not think negatively of the CASE project, but the idea of combining the two would not work because the Fraser Centre project, which is set to begin construction soon, is too far ahead.

"We have been working on this project for so long, and to throw a wrench into this is very unfair," she said.

Sparacino said the DID is currently trying to piece together a project it has been working on for years.

"Suddenly, a Borough Council member is asking about adding another aspect onto the project," she added.

The Fraser Centre project includes a high-rise residential condominium, a 10-screen cineplex and commercial offices and retail space, which could include retailers, restaurants and bookstores.

State Sen. Jake Corman, R-Bellefonte, helped to arrange a meeting Tuesday of the DID and Borough Manager Tom Fountaine with Gov. Ed Rendell's staff to talk about receiving funds from the state budget this year, Sparacino said.

Although she said the meeting went well, Sparacino declined to disclose if the DID received any promises of funding.

"We are working on one of the most important projects for downtown State College, and as soon as we have information, we will share it," she said.