State Farm awards Heartland Community College with major grant

[January 31, 2018] 

State Farm is making a major contribution to the success of Heartland Community College students bound for the workforce.

The State Farm Companies Foundation Board approved a two-year grant totaling $383,000 to be applied to Heartland programs that provide tools and training to meet the employment needs of the community.

“For years, State Farm has proudly maintained strong relationships with our local educational institutions, including Heartland Community College,” said State Farm Vice-President of Human Resources, Annette Martinez. “This is our latest effort to help support the professional and educational needs of our community and make a sustained, positive difference in the lives of our neighbors in the Bloomington-Normal area.”

The grant dollars will help Heartland increase the number of participants earning short-term certificates, boost career coaching resources for students and advance the development of curriculum focused on the area’s emerging business needs. The programs assist students as they consider, train for, and enter the workforce.

“The support State Farm is providing will benefit individuals, employers and the economy across District 540,” said Heartland Community College President Rob Widmer. “This grant is targeted to Heartland programs that directly connect learners with valuable resources needed to foster a successful career.”

Three Heartland programs are targeted with the grant dollars: Career Training, Career Coaching and Program Development. All three programs are geared toward preparing students with skills that meet the labor demands of the community.

· Career Training: Intense student learning to boost quick employment and increase the number of participants earning short-term certificates. Examples of these programs include: Phlebotomy, Certified Nursing Assistant, Truck Driver Training, and Pharmacy Technician Certification.

· Career Coaching: Resources focused on students’ success in the workplace including tools for time management, task management, and financial stability during and following their educational experiences.

· Program Development: Focused research, accreditation, and syllabus creation for emerging markets in the business community.

“The programs supported by these grant dollars are all about moving students into the workforce,” said Chris Downing, Executive Director of the Heartland Foundation. “State Farm’s commitment to Heartland is an investment in not only Heartland Community College, but also in the most valuable resource any employer needs: skilled people.”

The grant will begin to be applied at the start of the Fall 2018 semester.

[Steve Fast
Associate Director of Public Information
Heartland Community College]