RATHDRUM - James Dahlstrom knows there's more to science than regular classes at school.

On Thursday the Post Falls High student got a glimpse of what's going to get area students there.

Ground was broken on the youth STAR (Science, Technology and Research) Center just north of Rathdrum off Highway 41 on Willadsen Road.

"This definitely means students will learn more about science," said Dahlstrom, a member of his school's Roboteknix robotics team. "It will let us see it instead of just hearing about it. The most we see it now is in books and on the Internet."

About 100 people, including Gov. Butch Otter, school leaders and elected officials from throughout the county, attended the ceremony for the 20,000-square-foot center expected to open in fall 2011 and cost between $2 million and $2.5 million.

The project is the mastermind of Paul and Lorna Finman, founders of the nonprofit North Idaho Discovery Association that will fund the building along with science camp and program fees and exhibit and building sponsors.

The Finmans also own LCF Enterprises in Post Falls, which designs and manufactures amplifiers for commercial and military applications.

"They build products that help save people's lives (through the military), then spend their profits on projects like this," said Brent Regan, owner of Regan Designs, which builds electronic products.

Otter said the center, which will be open to all area students, will be at the root of Idaho's effort to help the country out of the recession by enhancing educational and economic opportunities.

"Obviously, you will have bragging rights for quite some time," Otter told the crowd. "This will help Idaho reach into the depths of creativity. It gives emphasis to what the nation is saying about Idaho."

USA Today recently ran a front-page article saying Idaho will be among the states to lead the country out of the recession.

"The reason they picked Idaho was because of the ingenuity, workforce and capability of every Idahoan," Otter said. "Idaho has bragging rights and you have the bragging rights in Idaho."

Lorna Finman said she hopes the conditional-use permit from the county will be obtained on Oct. 21 so construction can start.

"Everything appears to be favorable and we want to try to work through the winter," she said.

She said the center will allow students to "learn and play" at the same time under the guidance of science professionals.

A third of the building will be dedicated to hands-on exhibits that are free and open to the public. The other two-thirds will be for science and technology education and research.

Regan said the center is what's needed for future generations.

"This facility is going to unleash the power of our young minds," Regan said. "It's important to expose kids to different ways of doing things. And it's inspiring that it's being done completely outside of government grants and programs. It's a fine example of the way things should be."

Rathdrum Mayor Vic Holmes said the center will give local students an edge.

"This science center will help kids face challenges that a global marketplace will bring," he said.