CAIRO, Ill. (WJPF) – Students in a new construction program at Shawnee Community College will build a grocery store in Cairo.

The new course is part of the Federal Highway Administration and I-DOT’s Highway Construction Careers Training Program. John A Logan College is also involved; their staff will train the instructors at Shawnee Community College. JALC has been offering the same course for about 8 years.

Cairo’s last grocery store closed in 2015. Residents currently have to travel out of state to buy kitchen staples. The new grocery store is expected to open in late fall or early winter.