Compeer Financial contributes $100k for Heartland Community College agriculture facility

 

[July 15, 2022] 

Heartland Community College has received a $100,000 gift from Compeer Financial to boost the school’s growing agriculture programs.

The Agriculture and Rural Initiative, Compeer Financial’s donor advised fund, has granted $600,000 to community and technical colleges across the cooperative’s 144-county territory.

“The future of agriculture and our client’s farms rely on a strong, vibrant and robust agricultural workforce, and our partners in higher education provide opportunities for young adults to explore and gain hands-on experience in these careers,” said Stephanie Wise, a Compeer Financial Director. “Our clients continue to list workforce development among their highest concerns, and these grants and scholarships are the first step to improving this challenge for the industry.”

Many of the Compeer grants help to enhance the hands-on learning and real-world experiences offered to agriculture students at these institutions. Heartland Community College (HCC) will use the donation for a new agriculture complex which began construction in late June of this year.

Colleges receiving grant dollars were selected as partners based on their agricultural education offerings, agriculture workforce development and geographic impact.

The Agriculture and Rural Initiative was created by the Compeer Financial Board of Directors in 2019 to make signature investments in programs and projects that directly address the needs of farmers and others who work in agriculture.

“This grant truly demonstrates the commitment Compeer Financial has toward supporting opportunity for students studying agriculture,” said Chris Downing, Executive Director of the Heartland Foundation. “Compeer’s commitment to the Heartland Ag facility is a long-term investment in the success of ag students and the industry.”

About the Agriculture and Rural Initiative
The Agriculture and Rural Initiative was created by Compeer Financial’s Board of Directors in 2019 to make signature investments in programs and projects that are high priorities to member-owners. To date, $10 million has been invested in the Initiative. To date, the Initiative has awarded $1.8 million to support communities during the pandemic and agriculture workforce development.

The Agriculture and Rural Initiative is managed by the Compeer Financial Fund for Rural America Board of Trustees, who oversee the organization’s corporate giving efforts. More information about Compeer’s corporate giving programs can be found at Compeer.com/giving-back.

About Compeer Financial
Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural communities. The $27.7 billion organization provides loans, leases, risk management and other financial services throughout 144 counties in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Based in the Upper Midwest, Compeer Financial exists to champion the hopes and dreams of rural America, while providing personalized service and expertise to clients and the agriculture industry.

Compeer Financial is the third largest cooperative of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of lending institutions supporting agriculture and rural communities with reliable, consistent credit and financial services.

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