Overland Park ? Increasing interest in food, cooking and hospitality careers is prompting Johnson County Community College to consider building a new center for such academic programs.

The college wants to raise $3 million to help pay for a new center for expanded culinary and hospitality programs. The college doesn’t currently have the space to meet demand for such courses.

The college’s board of trustees agreed last week that if the college’s foundation can raise the money within 18 months, the board will approve the $10 million construction project.