Illinois Green Economy Network
About IGEN
The Illinois Green Economy Network (IGEN) was formed by intergovernmental agreements signed by each of the 39 Illinois community college district boards of trustees between 2008-2012, with support from the Illinois Community College Board, the Governor’s Office, and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The purpose of IGEN is to foster community colleges as centers of innovation and sustainability, to promote training and education for a “green collar” workforce, and to deploy energy conservation measures and renewable energy technology at the local community level.
Mission:
Promote collaboration among all Illinois community colleges and their partners to drive the growth of the green workforce and the clean energy economy.
Vision:
Ensure that the Illinois community college system serves as a leader in transforming education and the economy for a sustainable future.
Impact of IGEN
In FY26, IGEN is distributing funding to community colleges for:
- $318,746 for Curriculum Development
- $556,137 for Energy Efficiency
- $200,000 for Renewable Energy
Providing colleges with technical assistance to find energy efficiency solutions on campuses, saving utility costs and reducing carbon footprints.
Working with ICCB on Rev Up EVs program to assist in training automotive instructors, collaborating with industry leaders, and developing curriculum and pathways with community colleges.
Connecting colleges with each other and with valuable resources on monthly meeting calls and at the annual IGEN conference.
