Heartland Community College receives $2M grant for Ag facility

 

[April 19, 2022]  The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation is awarding a $2,000,000 grant to Heartland Community College for the agriculture facility currently scheduled to begin construction this year.

The grant supports the “Net Zero” energy performance of the facility. Grant funds will support project costs and building components related to energy efficiency and renewable self-generation, enabling the project to achieve site net zero energy performance.

“We’re grateful to receive this support for this project from the ICECF. Our agriculture facility will not only benefit the community by providing learning space for students spanning all ages, but will also do so with a net zero impact of energy use,” said Heartland Community College President Keith Cornille. “The Net Zero infrastructure of the building will serve as an educational tool for students in our renewable energy programs. And we grow to offer more opportunity for students to build skills for their future, we are doing so in a way that augments out campus in a renewable, sustainable manner.”

Heartland’s planned agriculture facility will be built on the west side of the Raab Rd. campus in Normal, IL. The College is currently set to break ground on the $20M-plus facility later this spring.

In addition to the ICECF grant, the Heartland Community College Foundation has received an additional $3.5M in private support for the project thus far. Donors have included the McLean County Farm Bureau, Compeer Financial, Precision Planting, and others.

Heartland Community College offers multiple pathways for agriculture students including the degree programs Associate in Science, Associate in Arts, Associate in Applied Science, as well as certifications in Agriculture Business, Agronomy Precision Agriculture and Regenerative Agriculture.

About the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation

The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation was established in December 1999 as an independent foundation with a $225 million endowment provided by Commonwealth Edison.

Their mission is to improve energy efficiency, advance the development and use of renewable energy resources, and protect natural areas and wildlife habitat in communities across Illinois.

[Steve Fast
Assistant to the President, Public Information and Communication
Heartland Community College]