CDI Contractors LLC of Little Rock was selected as the construction manager for a 27,500-SF multipurpose events center in Benton.

We're told the projected cost of the facility is north of $6 million.

You might recall the events center is part of a two-piece development Benton boosters advocate.

Local officials hope to iron out details for a six- or seven-story hotel with more than 100 rooms that would accompany the events center.

Benton officials in March spoke of a timetable that could see construction of both projects completed during the second half of 2013.

Construction of the events center will be bankrolled by a 1.5 percent A&P tax that Benton voters agreed to extend back in November.