Chicago Construction News staff writer
The Illinois Valley Community College Board of Trustees has awarded a $7.643 million contract to Vissering Construction Company of Streator to build the college’s new Agricultural Education Center in Oglesby.
The project, pending final approval from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, is backed by a $3.5 million EDA grant and a $240,000 Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity grant. Additional support will come from the IVCC Foundation’s Ag Campaign and the college’s Education and Operations and Maintenance Fund.
Groundbreaking is scheduled for Aug. 22.
The 10,250-square-foot facility will be located adjacent to IVCC’s 153-acre test plots, providing students with hands-on opportunities to connect theory with practice. The building will feature classrooms, labs, student collaboration areas, meeting spaces, and an innovation lab, with space reserved for a future greenhouse.
IVCC President Dr. Tracy Morris said the expansion reflects both community priorities and student demand.
“Ag has long been a cornerstone of our community, and here at IVCC, we are proud to see that tradition thrive,” Morris said. “Since 2020, our agriculture program has grown by 48 percent. By investing in the next generation of agriculture students, we are ensuring that this vital program continues to flourish for years to come.”
The facility is also being supported by a $1 million gift from the Wisgoski family, honoring Dr. Paul Wisgoski, the college’s longest-serving president. Wisgoski led IVCC for 22 years before retiring in 1996, capping a 47-year relationship with the school that began when he enrolled as a student at LPO Junior College.
The Agricultural Education Center is expected to be completed in 2027.
