State Senator Dale Fowler is pleased to announce the former Artisan Center at Rend Lake State Park may soon have a new purpose following Senate action Wednesday night.

“This is an exciting piece of legislation I have been working on with Representative Dave Severin to bring this vacant building back to life,” said Senator Fowler. “The Rend Lake Conservancy District has expressed great interest in bringing a tourism center to this location. This couldn’t have been a more perfect opportunity at the right time with the recent announcement of the $17.5 million in renovations set to take place at the now vacant Rend Lake Resort in 2023.”

House Bill 3823, Senate Floor Amendment 1 would allow the Illinois Department of Natural Resources the ability to sell the former art center for $531,667 to the Rend Lake Conservancy District through a quitclaim deed.

“It’s a win-win to get the doors opened back up on this building and for the taxpayers as the state will receive financial compensation for the building. Rend Lake draws people from all over the country and has created thousands of jobs and economic opportunity for the region. I am pleased with the bipartisan work we’ve done to get this to the floor and passed in the Senate,” said Fowler.

The Senate Floor Amendment passed the House of Representatives and now heads to the Governor for approval.