CRANBERRY TWP — An owner of a planned shooting range in the township is talking to possible investors for the $16 million project so right now there is no plan for the start of construction.

The Ellwand Shooting Sports Academy — planned to be a 170,000-square-foot facility — will be built on 22 acres along Route 19 near the park fire station.

Dave Gemperle, a certified training counselor with the National Rifle Association, said his facility will offer educational classes each month and retail and concession spaces for customers.

The shooting range, which received approval from the township supervisors in May, could be one of the first in the region of its size.

Gemperle previously said that Ellwand will include 61 lanes for firearms shooting and about 70 indoor archery lanes.

He said Monday he is receiving an enormous amount of feedback from residents, all of whom are curious as to when the facility might open.

While there’s no date set for construction, Gemperle said he’s meeting with potential investors this month to get financing for the project.

“It’s moving along,” he said. “I’d like it to be moving along faster, but I’m mature enough to know these things take some time.”

He added, “We can’t go anywhere without someone stopping and asking about the facility. We were told that Cranberry Township is getting calls constantly. The buzz is just huge.”

Ron Henshaw, the director of community development for the township, has worked with Gemperle on his project. He confirmed the township has received a lot of feedback from residents.

“People are very interested and excited about it,” Henshaw said. “I don’t get as many now as I did when the project was going through the approval phase, but people are definitely excited for it and energetic about it.”

Gemperle said he’s recently hired a law firm to help with the financing and said the money for the project could be in place in a month or two.