Sandburg has been awarded a $1.8 million grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to create an agriculture tech-focused incubator in downtown Galesburg.
The incubator — known as the 518 Collective, a nod to Sandburg District No. 518 — will provide physical workspace, business development services, workforce trainings, mentorship and networking opportunities to help individuals and early-stage companies succeed.
“We are deeply grateful to the DCEO for recognizing the potential of this project to empower underserved communities, providing access to education and resources that will transform lives,” President Dr. Seamus Reilly said. “Sandburg exists to open doors of opportunity for every resident in District 518. The 518 Collective builds on that mission — transforming a downtown space into a launchpad where local talent can invent, test and scale the technologies that will power the next generation of Illinois agriculture.”
The 518 Collective was part of $7 million in funding awarded by the DCEO to four grantees in the state through the Tech Incubator Enhancement Grant (TIEG) Program, which supports entrepreneurship and innovation in key growth industries around the state. Sandburg was the only community college among the four grant recipients.
The 518 Collective will be housed at Sandburg’s Annex, located at 209 E. Main St. in downtown Galesburg. The site had been home to the college’s dental hygiene program until it relocated to the new Science & Technology Center on the college’s Galesburg campus last fall. The Annex now houses Sandburg’s Workforce Development & Community Education Department. The proximity to the Workforce Development & Community Education staff and the space’s centralized location provide an ideal fit for the 518 Collective to assist small businesses and provide them with the tools and collaboration to thrive.
“Illinois has an unmatched spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship, and the Tech Incubator Enhancement Grants Program is helping channel that into world-changing advancements and sustainable economic growth,” Gov. JB Pritzker said. “Our technology incubators and start-up ecosystem are positioning our state as a powerhouse in the economy of tomorrow, and I am proud to be strengthening our investment in that future.”
The proposed layout for the 518 Collective includes work areas, private workspaces, meeting rooms, private communication booths, private offices, a recording studio and a shared kitchen. Renovations to the space that will house the 518 Collective are expected to begin later this year, with an anticipated opening in mid-2026.
“The 518 Collective will be more than a building; it’ll be a collaborative space where farmers, founders, students and industry partners can innovate side-by-side,” Vice President of Advancement Eric Johnson said. “Together we’ll stimulate high-quality jobs, strengthen our rural economy and ensure the spirit of progress reaches every corner of District 518.”
***Courtesy of Carl Sandburg College***
