By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Bloomington-Normal is the place to be for electric vehicles in Illinois.

Rivian is the main event there, but Gov. JB Pritzker Tuesday helped cut the ribbon on Heartland Community College’s expanded Advanced Manufacturing Training Center, where students can learn about, among other things, EV’s.

The project benefited from $7.5 million as a state grant, among other funding.

The expansion is a salvo for CTE – career and technical education, said the college’s president, Keith Cornille.

Pritzker said Illinois’ greatest assets are its higher education system – including 48 community colleges, the third largest system in the nation – and its human capital.

There are lots of other states that have – like “The Beverly Hillbillies” – they have “up from the ground come a-bubblin’ crude.” They have money coming up from the ground. They offer all kinds of dollars to companies to come to their state. We have some of that, but mostly what we have is great people.”

The governor did not say which state’s governor would be Jethro.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].