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MURPHYSBORO, Ill. (WSIL)--The city of Murphysboro is getting a boost to its economy.

The former "Curwood" property is getting a new look after years of being empty. Plus, some new jobs are coming with the change.

Kindrick Dill was born and raised in Murphysboro, and like many in the town he knows about the town's industrial past, and the vital role the "Curwood" property was for the town's economy. He says even his dad did some work inside the building. 

“He did some soil bearing inside the building as far as he told me, but that was years and years ago,� Dill said. 

Once home to a train repair shop a hundred years ago, it had many uses through the years, and now it will be revitalized for an aircraft maintenance company, Crucial MRO. 

Crucial MRO’s Vice President Wesley Perkins says they want to become a one-stop shop in ¾ÅÓÎÌåÓý Illinois.

“We do fabrication, refurbishment, and things of that nature. So basically any customer convenience items, seats, sidewalls, tray tables, and armrests,� Perkins said. 

They also do maintenance and repairs at the ¾ÅÓÎÌåÓý Illinois Airport and say the new location in Murphysboro will help them centralize operations. They also want to expand at the airport too.  

“Two more hangers of what we're in now to support more lines of aircraft maintenance because we are completely full," Perkins says. "We're hiring at this location, the other location, and trying to really solidify our business here in southern Illinois.�

Murphysboro’s mayor Will Stephens says not only will the new business impact their economy, but it will also put residents around the building at ease so that it’s no longer neglected. 

“If you live next door to that, I'm sure you are concerned about people breaking in and trying to, you know, pilfer copper or something out of there,� Stephens says. 

The new project will also bring 25 new full-time jobs for the area, and also other jobs as it is restored. 

“It needs a roof repair, it needs electrical upgrades, it needs to do HVAC, it needs plumbing work, it needs all sorts of things,� Stephens says.  “And so we have advanced them money out of our TIFF account to help pay for some of those repairs."

But Stephen says the help comes with a few promises including the new jobs.

“If they should sell the building anytime in the next five years, we would get all the money back that we're advancing. So we have some protections for the taxpayers there as well,� Stephen said. 

And Stephens says putting the Curwood building back in use, is a big step forward for Murphyboro’s industrial past. 

“It's probably the most important economic development in Murphyboro since the opening of maybe Penn Aluminum because it's going to provide some jobs that are going to be good paying jobs,� Stephens says. “So I think the fact that it's in the aviation industry is going to be something different that we don't necessarily see all the time.�

Dill's Neighbor William Stewart agrees. He is excited to see activity return but hopes it will bring more opportunities down the line including seeing a youth center. 

“All types of programs for sports, not just with boys, but with girls too,� Stewart said.  

Crucial MRO says they hope to move into the former "Curwood" property within two months.