In this episode of Galesburg’s Morning News, we welcomed Carl Sandburg College President Seamus Reilly and Vice President of Advancement Eric Johnson to discuss the 518 Collective, an innovative agriculture technology incubator set to transform downtown Galesburg. Funded by a $1.8 million grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Tech Incubator Enhancement Grant Program, plus additional college contributions exceeding $2 million, this project positions Carl Sandburg College as the only community college among four prestigious state grantees.
Named after Carl Sandburg College District No. 518, the 518 Collective will be housed at the Sandburg Annex, a prime downtown location at Main and Prairie streets. This central hub will offer entrepreneurs and early-stage companies flexible workspaces, a podcast studio, private offices, and meeting rooms, alongside free business development services, Microsoft tools training, workforce development programs, and mentorship opportunities.
President Reilly emphasized the Collective’s mission to serve all community members, from “8 to 80,” fostering innovation in ag-tech—a cornerstone of Illinois’ economy—and building on Western Illinois’ legacy of industry leaders like John Deere and Caterpillar.
Renovations begin later this year, with an opening planned for mid-2026. Programming, including workshops and entrepreneurship lunch series, starts immediately, targeting the agricultural off-season.
