South Suburban Airport Land Acquisition Program Continues to Generate Job Opportunities

MATTESON, Ill. – While groundbreaking for a new South Suburban Airport isn’t scheduled to begin for a few years, jobs already are being created as part of the state of Illinois’ $75 million land acquisition efforts. The state has currently purchased eight parcels within the proposed airport’s 4,200-acre inaugural site and 19 protective and hardship parcels within the entire footprint area.

The South Suburban Airport Property Office announced today that it is actively seeking local, minority and disadvantaged businesses and individuals to perform a variety of services to maintain properties purchased by the state. “The state is committed to maintaining the properties it has acquired,” says Roc Van Guilder, manager of the South Suburban Airport Property Office and an employee of Hanson Professional Services Inc., the consulting firm selected by the Illinois Department of Transportation to lead the land acquisition for the new airport. He adds, “We’re good neighbors and we’re going to maintain the properties and the neighborhoods.

“We need people or small businesses to perform cleaning and restoration, general repairs, plumbing, heating, electrical, and air conditioning services. We also need people who can make appliance repairs as well as cut grass and shovel snow,” says Van Guilder. “These homes will require the same services any property owner would need for general upkeep.”

This active maintenance program will ensure that the properties will be kept in good condition until it is time to build the airport, Van Guilder says. The state will rent the properties to keep them occupied and on the tax rolls. Van Guilder says monies received from rent will go back to the general fund as revenue to the state.

Anyone interested in becoming a part of the South Suburban Airport Property Office maintenance team should send his or her qualifications to the South Suburban Airport Property Office, Hanson Professional Services Inc., 4749 Lincoln Mall Drive, Suite 401, Matteson, IL 60443. Or, you may fax your qualifications to (708) 679-1625, call (708) 679-1395, or apply online at www.southsuburbanairport.com

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