Governor Quinn Announces $3.2 Million to Renovate Illinois Youth Center - St. Charles Intake Building

ST. CHARLES - Governor Pat Quinn today announced an investment of $3.2 million to completely renovate the Intake Center at the Illinois Youth Center in St. Charles. Funded by his Illinois Jobs Now! construction program, the project is part of Governor Quinn's commitment to creating jobs and driving Illinois' economy forward.

"This project will allow us to get full use out of this vital building and protect the state's investment in the facility," Governor Quinn said. "The project will also employ a number of construction workers, which will drive the local economy forward."

"As our largest youth reception center, the facility at St. Charles is critical to the department's intake process and we are pleased to complete the renovation," Acting Director of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ) Candice Jones said. "This project replaces the temporary work stations we provided in the interim, and was essential in helping the Department ensure the health and safety of our youth and staff at St. Charles."

The $3,292,231 project involves the remodeling of the entire Intake Building, including all general, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection. Asbestos abatement is also included. Replacing the temporary structures will save the IDJJ approximately $36,000 annually. The Illinois Capital Development Board will manage the project. The successful bidders include:

• General construction: Path Construction Company, Inc., of Arlington Heights, $1,856,600.
• Heating & air conditioning: Premier Mechanical, Inc. of Addison, $576,000.
• Electrical: Associated Electrical Contractors, Inc. of Woodstock, $469,942.
• Plumbing: J.B. Contracting Corporation of LaSalle, $128,699.
• Ventilation: Amber Mechanical Contractors Inc. of Alsip, $107,300.
• Fire Suppression: Automatic Fire Systems, Inc. of Rockford, $103,800.
• Asbestos abatement: Colfax Corporation of Chicago, $49,890.

"Updating the infrastructure of this facility will help the Department of Juvenile Justice continue on with its stated mission of providing individualized treatment for young offenders in the hopes of turning their lives around," State Senator Jim Oberweis (R-Sugar Grove) said. "Such programs show these young people that there are paths they can take other than one that could land them in prison. The fact that local and regional contractors are doing the work is an added benefit, for them and for the men and women they employ."

The Illinois Youth Center - St. Charles project is part of Governor Quinn's $31 billion Illinois Jobs Now! program, which will support more than 439,000 jobs over six years. Illinois Jobs Now! is the largest construction program in Illinois history, and is one of the largest construction programs in the nation.