Environmental education center to open in Rockford

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) - Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful is celebrating its 30th anniversary by announcing a capital campaign to create a recycling and environmental education center right here in Rockford.

In keeping with the organization's efforts to reduce, recycle and reuse, the former Continental Body Shop building located on Hydraulic Road will be renovated to house the new environmental center and administrative offices.

Organizers say moving to the new location will streamline processes and make them more accessible to the public.

"Being here, our front door will be open, we'll be able to answer questions in person. People will be able to walk in our front door we'll be able to give tours and especially we're going to have the library and education center which is the biggest part of this," said KNIB Executive Director Pamela Osborne.

The Scott and Virginia Webster Foundation along with the Perks Family Foundation will match dollar for dollar contributions to the facility which is expected to be completed by the end of this year.