Illinois Co-op Builds New Office Building with CFC Support

After a multi-year journey, Norris Electric Cooperative moved into its new, 14,000-square-foot corporate office building in July.

The Newton, Illinois-headquartered distribution cooperative began considering the need for a new building in 2017, but other projects, and then the COVID-19 pandemic, initially stood in the way. 

“Our original office was built in 1953, and had been added onto at least twice over the years, with a major renovation in 2000,” Norris Electric General Manager Tamara Phillips said. “But that proved to be only a band-aid. We needed a more efficient workspace, functioning bathrooms and updated electrical wiring. We also had security needs for the workforce in the lobby. We didn’t have a place to accommodate company-wide meetings, and our building wasn’t ADA compliant.”

Norris Electric commissioned an external study to identify options to address its operating needs, including remodeling or building a new facility. In addition, the project was discussed during a CFC-led strategic planning session in mid-2018, and there was a follow-up meeting in mid-2020 (see “CFC Helps Norris Electric Focus on the Future,” Solutions News Bulletin, July 13, 2020).

“CFC helped in making the board realize what needed to be done,” Phillips said. “It was a difficult decision, since it is the members’ money and our board is always cognizant of that. In the end, the board realized a new building was the best decision.”

To save money, the new building is located on the same property as the old one, which is being demolished to make room for a new pole yard. “CFC actually suggested we locate the office building where it was built,” Phillips said. “Even the company we hired to evaluate alternatives did not think of that option.”

By late 2020, Norris leadership and board recognized a new building was needed, but with escalating material costs and the unknown effect of the COVID pandemic on the economy, the process was put on hold. 

In June 2022, the Norris board of directors made the decision to move forward. Staff then worked with a general contractor and architect, broke ground last September and moved in this July.

The new building provides increased productivity, better workflow and efficiencies that will help meet the needs of the cooperative, its employees and members.

“Improving workflow was one of the things we kept in mind as we designed the layout of the building and the yard,” Phillips said. 

For employees, the new facility features a cohesive layout by department and increased safety and security. Additionally, the new building was designed so that every office has windows to let natural light into each workspace. “Several of our offices in the old building did not have any access to daylight,” Phillips said.

There is also a drive-thru window to improve service to members and updated technology like all-LED lighting, access controls for the building and a VOIP phone system.  

Norris Electric received a zero-percent loan through the USDA Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant Program to fund part of the $4 million building project. As a CFC 100% borrower, the cooperative tapped CFC to finance the balance.

Both members and employees are happy with the new facility. “All responses have been positive,” Phillips said. “I literally have not had any negativity from the membership.” 

For cooperatives considering a similar building project, Phillips recommends finding the right partners and starting as early as possible. 

“Be involved with the project and hire a contractor you trust,” she said. “The cost to build will never get any cheaper than it is today. It is a long process, but it is worth it in the end.”