The Will County Center for Economic Development….. A Step Ahead of Tomorrow
By: John Greuling President & CEO Will County Center for Economic Development
Will County today has become the hottest thing going in the metro-Chicago region. Consider the following:
This certainly is quite a change from twenty-five years ago when the Will County Center for Economic Development (“CED”) was formed. In 1981 the local unemployment rate was over 26%; the steel mills had shuttered their doors; construction was at a standstill; families were moving out of the area. Things were pretty bleak in Will County. The business leadership at the time would not give up, however. Designed to diversify the local economy and improve the quality of life for Will County residents, the CED started on a journey in 1981 to bring prosperity back to this County of Will. This year the CED is celebrating its role in creating the one of the most important economic engines in the State of Illinois today.
The CED is a private, not-for-profit 501C3 economic development foundation that serves all of Will County and its thirty-six municipalities. Relying on both private and public dollars to operate, it is a true “Public-Private Partnership”. With over 260 private company “investors” and 21 public “partners” (cities and the County), the CED recently announced that they have raised over $7.6 million in commitments to fund their work program for the next five years called A Step Ahead of Tomorrow.
The work of the CED is broken down into three primary areas: Business Development, Infrastructure Development and Leadership. It is this triad that is the secret to the success of Will County today.
Business Development includes new business recruitment and existing business retention and expansion. Through an aggressive marketing program, the CED has targeted the creation of over 30,000 good paying jobs in Will County resulting in over $4.4 billion dollars in new wealth for the region over the next five years. The County will continue to benefit from the huge rail intermodal center in the former Joliet Arsenal property. Coupled with this is a special focus on education and workforce preparedness. Creating a world-class K-12 education system in Will County is an important CED goal.
Infrastructure Development includes support for critical transportation and development projects to keep Will County a desirableplace for new investment. With all of the growth it is imperative that the infrastructure keeps pace. Maintenance and expansion of existing roads and construction of new roads will keep gridlock from choking the current and future residents and businesses of the county.
The CED is not afraid to provide the Leadership necessary to insure a sound economic future. The CED provides a unique opportunity for private corporations and business people to have a seat at the table in setting the course for the future of the county. Through its committees, investor programs and special events, the CED provides an ideal venue for businesses that want to make a difference today and tomorrow.
This commitment to leadership has risen to a new level with the Step Ahead of Tomorrow campaign. As a result of that initiative, the CED has created a new leadership group in Will County called the Strategic Policy Council (“SPC”). Set up like a think-tank of business and government leaders from throughout the County, the SPC will develop the Will County blueprint for prosperity - identifying the tough challenges facing business and government in the County and building consensus on real solutions.
The first two priority issues for the SPC are Education and Surface Transportation. The Council is currently reviewing ways in which business and education can work together to create a superior K-12 education system throughout the County. Likewise, they are also studying the transportation funding challenges facing the fastest growing county in Illinois and how the County can establish project priorities and build consensus for a rational infrastructure plan good for business and people.