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State of Illinois Highlights
Historic $500 Million Investment in Site Readiness Following
Balanced Budget Passage
[June 05, 2025]
SPRINGFIELD, IL – Following the
passage of Governor JB Pritzker’s seventh consecutive balanced
budget, the State of Illinois today highlighted a historic $500
million investment in site readiness—marking a bold step forward in
transforming unused state properties into hubs of economic
opportunity. This investment—which represents the largest site
readiness investment in state history—will prepare sites across the
state to attract new industries, create jobs, and bring new life to
communities that have long been impacted by shuttered or unused
facilities.
The Site Readiness initiative includes two major components:
$300 million for the “Surplus to Success” program led by the
Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS), which will
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 programs
and fund large-scale business attraction efforts.
“These investments are about more
than just repurposing land—they’re about revitalizing entire
communities, creating jobs, and building a future where every region
of Illinois is ready to compete for economic development
opportunities,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “There’s no reason the
State should continue to own deteriorating properties when they can
be cleaned up, developed, and put back into productive use. Surplus
to Success is going to turn liabilities into launchpads for economic
growth, jobs and community.”
Subject to available funds, the “Surplus to Success” program will
target five high-priority properties including:
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).
The Developmental Center will be unaffected.
Under the new initiative, these sites will be remediated and
marketed for development, supporting job creation, local revenue
generation, and economic resilience.
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“Surplus to
Success is yet another commitment from Governor Pritzker to
invest in Illinois’ future,” said Raven A. DeVaughn, Director of
CMS. “These properties have long sat vacant, draining public
resources, and blighting the communities where they sit. With
this funding, CMS can begin the hard but necessary work of
transforming the sites into assets returning these properties to
the State’s tax rolls to drive growth, attract businesses, and
strengthen communities across the State. We are excited to be
part of the team that writes the next chapter for these
properties.”
Through the $200 million DCEO component, the state will expand
its efforts to make sites ready for business attraction and
business development. This includes funding energy
infrastructure to reduce long lead times, and help
municipalities, economic development organizations, and
landowners prepare sites for investment.
“The demand for ready-to-go industrial and commercial sites is
high, and Illinois is meeting that demand head-on with new site
readiness investments,” said DCEO Director Kristin Richards.
“Under Governor Pritzker’s leadership, we’re empowering
communities to compete for large-scale projects and accelerating
our mission to bolster economic development statewide.”
The state’s $500 million investment is projected to yield
transformative economic returns, improve property values, and
reduce the burden on taxpayers by eliminating ongoing security
and maintenance costs at abandoned facilities. The Pritzker
Administration will work with the local municipalities where
these properties sit to finalize the future of the sites most
responsive to the communities needs which may focus on workforce
housing or new job creation.
With Illinois ranked among the top 15 states to do business by
CNBC, the FY26 budget continues Governor Pritzker’s economic
development agenda by leveraging strategic investments, proven
fiscal discipline, and bold, community-driven initiatives.
[Text received from Illinois Dept. of
Central Management Services]
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