Red Cross closer to new home with deed transfer to city
Weller announces intent to introduce transfer legislation at deed conveyance ceremony
Peru, IL,
Nov 3 -
The Illinois Valley Red Cross is one step closer to moving into a more spacious home, after a ceremony this morning. U.S. Representative Jerry Weller (R-Morris) hosted the event at which the General Services Administration (GSA) transferred the deed to the former Social Security Administration building to the City of Peru. The City has said it will lease the building to the Red Cross.
“Today’s ceremony is the result of teamwork at the federal, local, and private level,” Weller said. “It was clear the Red Cross needed more room and better facilities for its vital programs. I commend Mayor Baker and the Peru City Council, the federal General Services Administration, and Red Cross Executive Director Sarah Stasik for working together to move quickly to make this transfer happen.
“This past summer I visited the Red Cross at its facility just up the street from the SSA building, and it was very clear an upgrade was needed,” Weller continued. “The lack of space meant cramped quarters for blood drives, training programs, and for people who are the victims of a natural disaster or fire and just needed a place to stay. Not to mention there’s virtually no parking for volunteers. Moving into SSA building addresses and corrects all those problems.
“Following my visit to the Red Cross, I reached out to the GSA to seek their cooperation in providing the Illinois Valley Red Cross with the use of the former Social Security Administration Building. We’ve worked out an agreement with the City of Peru to temporarily take title of the building with an inexpensive lease for the Red Cross while I work to pass legislation formally giving ownership of the surplus federal building to the Red Cross.”
At Friday’s ceremony, GSA Great Lakes Administrator Jim Handley handed the deed to the SSA building to Peru Mayor Don Baker. The deal allows for Rep. Weller to introduce legislation ultimately transferring ownership of the property to the Red Cross.
“I plan to introduce the legislation in the next Congress as soon as possible,” Weller said. “Ownership will allow the Red Cross to do an even better job improving and saving lives in the Illinois Valley.”
