SPRINGFIELD – Following the passage of the state’s seventh balanced budget, Senate Democrats highlighted a historic $500 million investment in site readiness to revitalize vacant sites in the state to attract new business and job opportunities.

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, which will prepare idle state-owned properties for private development.
• $200 million for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to expand its existing Site Readiness programs and fund large-scale business attraction efforts.

“The ‘Surplus to Success’ program brings hope to the former Singer Mental Health Center,” said State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford). “This is a great initiative to boost economic development in the Rockford region and I’m looking forward to seeing the revitalization process to the vacant land.”

The $500 million is the  largest site readiness investment in state history and 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 respective state agencies will work with the local municipalities where these properties sit to finalize the future of the sites most responsive to the community’s needs.

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.

“This program takes the forgotten projects of the past and turns them into projects of the future with a boost from private investment,” said State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex). “The Shapiro Development Center’s unused land is ripe for investment and has the potential to bring jobs and economic success to Kankakee.”

With Illinois ranked among the top 15 states to do business by CNBC, the FY 26 budget continues Illinois’ economic development agenda by leveraging strategic investments, proven fiscal discipline and bold, community-driven initiatives.