College Buys $209,468 in Plumbing, Electrical Gear With State Trades Grant

Lake Land College | August 17, 2026

Article Summary: Lake Land College trustees unanimously approved a $209,468.20 purchase of curriculum, equipment and supplies from Graybar Electric Company of Chesterfield, Missouri, on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, to launch plumbing and electrical certification programs. The purchase is funded entirely by an Illinois Community College Board “Taking Back the Trades” Round 4 grant.

Trades Equipment Purchase Key Points:

• Total purchase of $209,468.20, described by the college as fully grant-funded through a fiscal year 2026 ICCB Taking Back the Trades Round 4 award.
• Vendor is Graybar Electric Company, Chesterfield, Missouri; the college states bidding was not required because Graybar is a sole source provider.
• Equipment spans 14 separate quotes covering conduit bending, threading, drain cleaning, drain inspection, wire termination and lab training stations.
• Program direction was informed by a survey of area high schools that identified plumbing and electrical certification as top career interests.

MATTOON — The Lake Land College Board of Trustees on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, approved the purchase of $209,468.20 in curriculum, equipment and supplies to stand up plumbing and electrical certification programs, with the entire cost covered by a state trades grant.

Vice President for Academic Services Dr. Ikemefuna Nwosu presented the item, supported by a memo from Grants Writer and Coordinator Dr. Beth Craig. The board approved it unanimously, 8-0, on a motion by Trustee Gary Cadwell, seconded by Trustee Larry Lilly.

The minutes describe the purchase as a collaborative effort between the Business and Technology Division and Workforce Solutions, funded entirely by the ICCB “Taking Back the Trades” Round 4 grant. Craig’s Aug. 4 memo states that Lake Land College was awarded the grant during fiscal year 2026 and that the purchase is intended “to finish up grant goals and activities.” The memo notes that “the bidding process is not necessary, as this is a sole source provider.”

What the Money Buys

The board packet contains 14 separate Graybar quotes, each dated July 8, 2026, valid through Aug. 7, 2026, and addressed to Brian Madlem at the college. The quotes are organized by instructional topic and include, by quote subtotal: Pathways, $25,019.07; COE Lab, $26,320.91; Advanced Bending, $22,283.70; Wire Termination, $18,746.11; Pressing, $16,094.55; Handheld Threading, $15,532.07; Basic Bending, $14,963.29; Fishing Cable Pulling, $13,865.67; Drain Inspection, $13,511.37; Insulation Ground Rod, $11,717.73; 3 Phase, $8,484.72; Power Machine Threading, $8,029.03; Basic Electrical Installation, $6,168.70; and Hand Bending, $3,053.19.

Individual line items range from $4.90 non-metallic cable rippers to a $10,798.80 compact camera inspection system and a $7,793.89 mechanical conduit bender. The COE Lab quote covers seven training-center boxes at $2,899.45 each, seven five-inch vises, 14 counter stools and seven caster kits. The Pathways quote includes seven cordless drill/driver sets, battery packs, chargers and contractor tool bags.

Two of the quotes — Basic Bending and Hand Bending — carry the note “HAND BENDING IS INCLUDED WITH BASIC BENDING. NO NEED TO ORDER BOTH.” The Hand Bending quote nonetheless duplicates nine of the Basic Bending line items. (See Editorial Flags.)

Certification Framework

Marketing material included in the packet indicates the equipment is tied to industry certification tracks administered by NC3, the National Coalition of Certification Centers. Greenlee certification modules listed include Hand Bending, Basic Conduit Bending, Advanced Conduit Bending, Wire Pathways Rotary/Knockout, Fishing Conduits & Raceways, Cable Pulling, Electrical Branch/Series & Service Level Wire Termination, 3-Phase Sequencing & Motor Rotation, Insulation & Ground Rod Resistance Testing, and Basic Electrical Installation. RIDGID modules listed include Manual & Handheld Power Threading, Power Machine Threading, Pressing for HVAC & Plumbing, Fundamentals of Bending, Flaring & Swaging, Diagnostic Camera Inspection, and Fundamentals of Drain Cleaning. The module names correspond closely to the quote titles.

The purchase lands as the college expands career and technical offerings at its Effingham Technology Center, where Director of Effingham and Regional Educational Centers Jerry Tkachuk reported the same evening that automotive technology, allied health and commercial driver’s license courses in the CORE program are at full enrollment, and that the center’s goals for the coming year include expanding criminal justice courses and developing an electric vehicles course.