NuEra, a Chicago-based vertically integrated Cannabis company, recently donated $100,000 to Illinois Valley Community College’s cannabis production certificate program.

NuEra’s Principle Officer Keith McGinnis of Ottawa made the gift to IVCC President Jerry Corcoran, board chair Jane Goetz, and vice chair Everett Solon at IVCC’s Ottawa Center Friday morning.

NuEra, headquartered in Wheaton, operates a cultivation center in Hillcrest, with medical dispensaries in Chicago, East Peoria, and Urbana. NuEra also services the adult use cannabis market in East Peoria, Pekin, Champaign, Urbana and two facilities in Chicago.  The company, formerly known as NuMed, was one of the first licensed operators in Illinois’ medical pilot program and has been serving the medical cannabis community since 2016.

“This remarkably generous gift facilitated by Keith will aid significantly in our agriculture department’s build-out of this program,” said IVCC President Jerry Corcoran. “It will provide the resources it needs to flourish.”

Last fall, IVCC’s agriculture program partnered with Mid-American Growers of Granville in developing the two-semester cannabis certificate. In addition to on-campus classes, students are working paid internships at MAG and Green Thumb Industries in Oglesby.

In the cover photo: IVCC board vice chair Everett Solon, left, NuEra’s Principle Officer Keith McGinnis, IVCC President Jerry Corcoran and board chair Jane Goetz accept a check for $100,000 for the college’s cannabis production program.