Congressman LaHood tours facilities at Heartland Community College

Posted on March 26, 2024

*U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Dunlap) toured some of the facilities Monday afternoon at Heartland Community College. (Photo courtesy WMBD-TV)*

NORMAL – U.S. Congressman Darin LaHood (R-Dunlap) made a stop in Normal to tour manufacturing and agricultural facilities at Heartland Community College.

The Advanced Manufacturing Center and Agricultural Center both opened on Jan. 16.

The manufacturing center is a $17 million facility funded in part by a $7.5 million grant from the Rebuild Illinois capital plan.

It features Illinois’ first Electric Vehicle – Energy Storage (EVES) training center in addition to programs such as Electric Vehicle Technology, High-Voltage Energy Storage, Robotics, Renewable Energy, and Automation.

LaHood is excited for the new additions, emphasizing a new generation of skilled workers is developing in these new facilities.

“They’re creating the workforce for the future. The one thing that I hear throughout my district is ‘we have a lack of qualified workforce in our communities,’” said LaHood. “What they’re doing here in Heartland is creating the future, what I call ‘new collar’ jobs, they’re not blue collar jobs, they’re not white collar jobs. Where you need some advanced training and that’s being done here at their new center.”

The new agricultural facility is open and operating but is still waiting for new photovoltaic system. The $23 million building will teach students about plant science, soil analysis, precision planting technology, drone technology, and heavy equipment.

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