Design and Construction Report staff writer
The State of Illinois has announced a $500 million investment in site readiness—marking the largest commitment of its kind in state history—to repurpose dormant state-owned properties and position them for private-sector redevelopment.
The initiative is designed to prepare key sites for new industrial and commercial uses, with the goal of attracting business investment, creating jobs, and restoring value to communities impacted by long-vacant government facilities.
Funding will be divided between two programs:
$300 million for Surplus to Success, a program led by the Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) to prepare idle state-owned properties for private development.
$200 million for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to expand its existing Site Readiness Program, support energy infrastructure improvements, and assist municipalities and developers in preparing sites for business attraction.
Five high-priority state-owned sites have been identified under the Surplus to Success program:
- Dwight Correctional Center – 160 acres
- Singer Mental Health Center in Rockford – 100 acres
- Jacksonville Developmental Center – 100 acres
- Lincoln Developmental Center – 100 acres
- Shapiro Developmental Center (unutilized land in Kankakee) – 70 acres (active portions of the center will remain in use)
“These properties have long sat vacant, draining public resources and blighting the communities where they sit,” said CMS Director Raven A. DeVaughn. “With this funding, CMS can begin the hard but necessary work of transforming the sites into assets—returning them to the tax rolls to drive growth and attract businesses.”
The state intends to remediate and market the locations for redevelopment, supporting local economies through job creation and increased tax revenues. Final redevelopment decisions will be coordinated with local municipalities, taking into account regional needs such as housing, employment, and infrastructure.
The $200 million allocated to DCEO will be used to address infrastructure challenges that often delay or deter business development—particularly the lack of utility-ready sites. DCEO says the investment will help communities become more competitive in attracting large-scale projects.
“The demand for ready-to-go industrial and commercial sites is high,” said DCEO Director Kristin Richards. “This investment allows us to meet that demand by preparing strategic locations across the state for new economic activity.”
