Real estate and financial management giant Jones Lang LaSalle plans to locate its national call center operations in Pittsburgh, a move that could bring 150 jobs Downtown in the next five years.

Gov. Ed Rendell announced the Chicago-based firm's plans yesterday during a swing through the region to hand out state assistance to a variety of projects, continuing a theme that has become prevalent this election year.

Mr. Rendell said Jones Lang LaSalle has signed a lease for about 23,000 square feet of new space in 525 William Penn Place, formerly known as Three Mellon Center. The company is moving from the Union Trust Building, where its lease, like those of many other tenants, expires next month. Fifty employees occupy 6,000 to 7,000 square feet there, and another 20 work at other sites.

Pittsburgh was one of three finalists being considered for the move and won the bid because of its "high quality work force, central location and strong public-sector investments in business development," said J.C. Pelusi, managing director of the company's Pittsburgh office.

Along with the call center move, the company will expand its lease administration operations here, which Mr. Pelusi said has been adding 10 to 15 new employees per year.

The new lease brings occupancy at the 41-story 525 William Penn Place to 86 percent, said leasing agents Rob Geiger and Scott Astorino, of Grant Street Associates.

Mr. Rendell presented Jones Lang LaSalle with a check for $487,600 from the state's Department of Community and Economic Development to help fund the expansion. Also yesterday, the governor handed out $2.5 million to Siemens Energy and Automation Inc. to assist with a $7.2 million expansion at its Upper Burrell plant; $4.5 million to assist with construction of a research institute at Magee-Womens Hospital; and $7 million for the renovation and expansion of a Butler County business park.

Jones Lang LaSalle's agreement with the state calls for the creation of at least 88 jobs in Pittsburgh over three years.

With 2005 revenue of about $1.4 billion and more than 100 offices worldwide, the firm manages nearly 7 million square feet of real estate in the Pittsburgh area for clients such as Mellon Financial and CBS Corp., as well as providing tenant representation services for others.