GALESBURG — Sandra Gray has been hired as the senior executive for the 518 Collective, a grant-supported agriculture technology business incubator operated by Sandburg in downtown Galesburg.
Gray will serve as the lead strategist, relationship builder and business development officer for the 518 Collective (pronounced “five eighteen”), working to attract entrepreneurs, business partners, investors, sponsors, grant funding and community collaborations. She’ll also recruit startups, develop programming, create workforce and educational partnerships and generate the external support needed for the incubator’s long-term success.
Gray spent the last decade working in advancement at Knox College, including serving as assistant vice president since 2022. She began her role at the 518 Collective last week.
“I’m excited to be part of the 518 Collective and help cultivate ideas, partnerships and talent that will drive the next generation of agriculture innovation and economic development in our region,” Gray said. “The opportunity to connect entrepreneurs, students and industry to shape the future of agriculture in west-central Illinois is incredibly energizing. I look forward to bringing those elements together through the 518 Collective to create new avenues of success for our communities.”
The 518 Collective — whose name is a nod to Sandburg District No. 518 — will provide physical workspace, business development services, workforce training, mentorship and networking opportunities to help individuals and early-stage companies succeed. Its layout will include work areas, private workspaces, meeting rooms, communication booths, independent offices, a recording studio and a shared kitchen.
Sandburg last summer was awarded a $1.8 million grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to create the agriculture tech-focused incubator located at the site of the former Sandburg Annex, 209 E. Main St. Renovation work on the building is slated to begin this summer, with the 518 Collective expected to open in early 2027. The location had been home to the college’s dental hygiene program until it moved to the new Science & Technology Center on the college’s Galesburg campus.
"We are excited to welcome Sandra to the 518 Collective team,” said Sandburg Vice President of Advancement Eric Johnson, who was instrumental in securing the grant for the 518 Collective. “Throughout her career, Sandra has demonstrated a remarkable ability to build strong partnerships, improve processes and help organizations achieve meaningful growth. Those strengths, combined with her collaborative approach and passion for community impact, make her an exceptional addition to lead this initiative."
Sandra Gray