State Receives Donation of Large, Modern Office Building in Marion, Illinois, Valued
at $4.5 Million

Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Central Management Services

(CMS) announced Wednesday that the State of Illinois has received a donation of an office building at

912 Pentecost Road, Marion, Illinois, from a limited liability company managed by Bob Blettner of

the Blettner Group. The office building property, valued and recently appraised at $4.5 million, is

approximately 51,000 square feet, and can accommodate 400 employees. It is a Class A office

building in move-in condition, with many well-furnished areas, smart digital controls, energy

efficient HVAC and lighting, a backup generator, and the latest fiber optic service.

“Thanks to the generosity of Bob Blettner and the Blettner Group, the Illinois Department of

Children and Family Services is getting a new home in Marion—providing DCFS staff with a

modernized facility and streamlined operations,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This acquisition

will further allow DCFS staff to do the work that matters most: helping the children and families of

Illinois thrive. My administration has prioritized maintaining a real estate portfolio that is efficient,

sustainable, and cost-conscious—and this new office building furthers those efforts.”

The receipt of this property will allow the State the opportunity to provide upgraded facilities for

the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and one or more other State agencies.

Currently, DCFS has two facilities in the Marion area, and the donated property will offer much

improved space that will provide considerable operational savings and efficiencies. In addition,

CMS will seek to consolidate additional leases in the area resulting in a potential annual savings of

up to $1 million.

“This office space will have a positive impact on the families that we serve every day,” said Illinois

DCFS Director Marc D. Smith. “For families to receive the best outcomes it is critical that they feel

comfortable receiving services and engaging with our staff. We are very thankful for the Blettner

Group’s generosity.”

“Thanks to this generous donation, we will be able to save the taxpayers money while also

improving access to important State services for area residents,” said State Senator Dale

Fowler (R-Harrisburg). “Securing this state-of-the-art building is an opportunity that

doesn’t come around often. I appreciate the Pritzker Administration for making this a

priority and getting this deal done in time to make it a reality.”

“The generosity of The Blettner Group in donating this high-class facility will mean a more

comfortable environment for families interacting with DCFS and a more professional place

for the good people providing these services to work in,” said State Representative Dave

Severin (R-Benton). “DCFS is gaining a world-class facility. That will lead to better

outcomes for DCFS employees and families and children interacting with the agency.”

“It is heartening to see private and public entities cooperate in this way,” said State

Representative Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis). “The transfer of this building will

mean better facilities for the professionals serving the needs of the people of the State of

Illinois. A world-class office building like this will improve outcomes for children and

families interacting with DCFS and provide public servants a professional environment

where they can succeed.”

“Any time we can improve the facilities that our partners at DCFS are using to provide better

services to families and children, I’m all for it,” said State Representative Paul Jacobs (R-Pomona). “In this case, a Class A office building is being donated to the state, and a building

otherwise not being used will be occupied by hard working people providing critical services

to our citizens. This is a win-win.”

Since the beginning of his administration, Governor Pritzker directed CMS to optimize the

State’s real estate portfolio and reduce operating expenses. CMS is responsible for the

management of over 800 leased and owned facilities throughout the State and is

continuously analyzing this portfolio to meet operational needs while maximizing

efficiencies.

CMS continues to realign the State’s real estate portfolio to maximize space utilization in

state-owned and leased properties. The effort to identify efficiency improvements and space

consolidation will result in a reduction of nearly 650,000 square feet of office space in

downtown Chicago alone, saving over $20M annually as a result of lowering operating costs

and terminating private high-cost leases.

In Springfield, the State is undertaking several capital projects to repurpose and consolidate

space including the renovation of the historic Illinois State Armory, which will maximize

space utilization by creating efficient and flexible office spaces for State’s operations while

incorporating green and sustainable strategies. State will also construct a new certified

Central Computing Facility to create a cutting-edge, Tier III data center to support the State’s

efforts to modernize and respond to evolving technology. The State will renovate the existing

data center structure, adopt the new space standards, and repurpose it for State operations.

Dale Fowler

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