The former downtown Aurora Public Library will become home to Support Companies, LLC, a technology firm that provides technology services for government and private sector institutions. (Chronicle photo)

Aurora’s vacant former downtown public library will soon have a new lease on life.

Support Companies, LLC, plans to bring around 100 jobs to downtown Aurora when it takes over and renovates the former downtown public library at Stolp Avenue and Benton Street.

“Not only will the move bring more than 100 jobs to historic downtown Aurora, it will also place the former library on the tax rolls for the first time ever,” said Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner.

Support Companies, LLC, currently based on Aurora’s Far East Side, will purchase the property for $10 and property taxes eventually generated will benefit local taxing bodies including the City of Aurora and East Aurora School District 131.

The former library building will house a 24/7 contact center, training and product labs, IT and server operations and administrative offices. The company expects to have all operations and employees moved to the new location by the next summer.

“One of the goals of the library’s board was to not leave the former library vacant,” said Aurora Public Library Board of Directors President John Savage. “This agreement accomplishes that goal and so much more. To say that we are excited about the opportunities that Support Companies, LLC can provide to our community would be an understatement.”

The city of Aurora Finance Committee last week began consideration of an intergovernmental agreement between the city, the Aurora Public Library and Support Companies, LLC to purchase and re-purpose the building.

The Support Companies and its sister companies specialize in providing support for cutting-edge technologies. Clients include large counties, banking institutions, hotels and national corporate users.

All of its major clients are traded on the New York Stock Exchange and new start-up clients are being added regularly.

In business for more than 20 years, the firm currently has more than 100 full-time permanent employees, more than 75 percent of them Aurora residents.

“Our work environment is built to engage and support our workforce. We invest heavily in people and the community,” said Support Companies, LLC President Ron Janusz. “Downtown Aurora is buzzing with new energy, and we want to be a part of that. This is an ideal location for our continued growth and development.”

A large percentage of the workforce are young tech-focused millennials who are in college or recent graduates. The proximity to Waubonsee Community College was one of the main attractions for the move to the former library site.

In partnership with Waubonsee Community College and the Kane County Workforce Development Division, Support Companies, LLC will establish an on-site training program to provide technical skills training and career connections.

“We are looking forward to providing opportunities right here in Aurora for young professionals looking to start their tech careers. Our relatively young workforce will help to increase a demand for housing, food and other cultural amenities,” said Support Companies Vice President Melinda Kruder. “Collaborating with local institutions will be a win for all involved.”

Support Companies, LLC has also partnered with OnLight Aurora to provide redundant Internet and broadband services to the facility and is working with local architects for the internal renovations of the property.

Design work and floor plans will start immediately and build out will begin in January. While the main floor requires no build-out work, the basement and second floor will undergo extensive renovations to accommodate staff, IT servers and the professional levels of technology and accessibility needed to provide high quality services to its global clients.

— Tech firm purchasing old downtown Aurora library  —