Kishwaukee College was selected as one of six community colleges in Illinois to receive a Compeer Financial Agriculture & Rural Initiative Grant, which will provide financial support for technology improvements in the College’s greenhouse facility.

The Kishwaukee College Foundation, which applied for the grant, was awarded $75,000 to help fund technology and equipment upgrades in the greenhouse as part of upcoming planned renovations. The greenhouse, built in 1973, will soon see an additional classroom and improvements to the building’s heating, cooling, electrical, and plumbing. The grant from Compeer will supplement technology upgrades for the overall project, which is funded through State and College funds. Kish received an additional $220,000 state grant from the Illinois Capital Development Board for the greenhouse renovations.

Work on the greenhouse will begin in June and is expected to be completed in September. The renovations will enhance hands-on learning and real-world experience for Kish students enrolled in Horticulture or Agriculture programs.

In addition to the grant from Compeer, the Foundation will receive $2,500 a year for the next five years to fund scholarships for students enrolled in the College’s agriculture pathways. Kish was selected based on its agricultural education offerings, agriculture workforce development, and geographic impact. The College offers a variety of agriculture-related programs, including Agribusiness, Horticulture, Precision Agriculture, Diesel Power Technology, and more.

In January, Compeer Financial announced it would commit $1.9 million in grants and scholarships over the next five years to further develop the agricultural workforce. Kish was one of 14 colleges in Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin to receive funding in the first rounds of grants.

Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural communities in Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The Agriculture and Rural Initiative was created by the Compeer Financial Board of Directors to make investments in programs and projects that directly address the needs of farmers and others who work in agriculture.

To learn more about Kish, visit www.kish.edu. To learn more about Compeer Financial’s Agriculture and Rural Initiative, visit www.compeer.com.