ILLINOIS — This month, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced $17 million in funding to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) to expand the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC), which includes $15 million from the State of Illinois and $2 million from the Illinois Corn Growers Association.
“Illinois is home to cutting-edge institutions, and we’re building our state’s reputation as a world-class leader in research by expanding the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center at SIUE,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “As federal policies drive up costs for farmers and consumers, we’re working to provide relief while providing new investments for Illinois farmers to grow. This expansion will help turn Illinois crops into new products and create more opportunities and good-paying jobs in Southwestern Illinois.”
The NCERC expansion builds on Governor Pritzker’s long-standing efforts to strengthen research and development, advanced manufacturing, agricultural innovation, energy independence, and workforce training. By investing in new infrastructure and workforce development, the project will help position downstate Illinois to compete for research activity, private investment, and high-quality jobs in the growing bioeconomy. This investment also comes at a time when Illinoisans are looking for more affordable fuel options given the rising cost of gasoline due to the Trump Administration’s war in Iran and harmful economic policies. Earlier this week, Gov. Pritzker took decisive action to address this crisis,
issuing a state disaster proclamation and signing Executive Order 2026-08 to provide relief on diesel costs. Previously, the Governor
called upon Congressional leaders to pass legislation permanently allowing year-round sales of E15 gasoline to address rising gas costs and support stronger, more stable agricultural markets in Illinois.
“This announcement will usher in a new era for SIUE, for student researchers, for our corn growers, and for the future of the bioeconomy here in Illinois. With this $17 million investment, they will be able to expand research and training capacity and give businesses the skilled talent they need to grow,” said Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski. “I’m proud to continue supporting NCERC back in Washington, as Co-Chair of the Biofuels Congress. This year, I submitted an additional federal funding request that will hopefully boost this already robust investment. Ultimately, this funding will help propel NCERC forward and allow them to expand on the groundbreaking work they are doing right in our district.”
NCERC is a nationally recognized research center dedicated to advancing biotechnology, from research and development to commercial application. For more than two decades, the center has partnered with startups, technology developers, and other industry partners to bring ideas to market, including contributing to the advancement of more than 100 innovative technologies toward commercial readiness, largely in the corn-to-ethanol industry.
