Will County CED News

Local, regional and state transportation officials paid tribute to the late Will County Executive Larry Walsh, Sr. on October 13th. First as a State Senator and later as the County Executive, Larry devoted countless hours planning, supporting and securing billions of dollars for transportation projects throughout the region.  Projects such as the I-355 Extension and helping to secure funding for the reconstruction of I-80, including replacement of the bridges over the Des Plaines River were highlighted as parts of Larry’s transportation legacy. The event was sponsored by Pace Suburban Bus Service. 

Julie comes to us after spending the last five years as the Senior Development Director for the Greater Joliet YMCA. In her new role with the CED, Julie will be working with existing and prospective CED Investors to ensure investor value to support economic development in Will County and the growth of our companies.

John Greuling, CED President & CEO recently spoke with Tom Shaw at Shaw Media about the strengths of Will County communities and the quality of leadership found here especially during the past few months.
https://www.youtube.com/watch…

Non-Store (e-commerce) retailers gained 21.6% followed by grocery 13.2% and food and beverage 12%.  
E-commerce was already growing and this trend is expected to escalate with consumers quickly adopting purchase of essential goods through on-line channels.  

​Our President & CEO, John Greuling recently appeared on WJOL and shared his perspective:  Will County and our economy, as resilient as it has been for the last twenty-plus years - even through the Great Recession - is entering a challenging period.  Job One is to be where you’re supposed to be, do what you’re supposed to do (and not too closely), support our health and community care providers to the max, wash your hands and beat this virus.  Then we will need to reinvigorate what we have and make it better. 

The good news for Will County is that all our primary industry sectors will play major roles in the Recovery locally, regionally and nationally. Our incredible health care businesses, educational institutions, energy/chemical/refinery companies, manufacturers and the transportation, distribution, logistics industry will play major roles in bringing us back, making us better. The Will County Center for Economic Development is the go to organization to get it done and stands ready to be an integral part in this Recovery.  The CED Board Members and Investors have always recognized that economic growth and prosperity doesn’t just happen by itself.  It takes strategic thinking, planning and doing.  We Will Stay Strong.

​#JohnGreuling discussed the Mission of the CED, important economic indicators, and the #RebuildIllinois capital bill that will bring $2.15 billion to #WillCounty transportation projects.
Thank you to the #JolietRegionchamberofcommerceandindustry for the opportunity to speak and congratulations on your community leadership school's 42 years of building leaders here in #Willcountyillinois.

​Through the hard work of #Willcounty legislators and local municipality and County officials, Governor Pritzker proclaimed the I-80 reconstruction as the "Signature Project" of #rebuildIllinois. The reconstruction of #Interstate80 from Minooka to New Lenox-received $1.2 billion from the state of Illinois through the #RebuildIllinois Capital Plan.
Read more in our 2019 Annual Report to Investors here:  Document Library

Greuling said he wonders what decision-makers 50 years from now will think about the job
the CED does today. He said economic development requires him to take the “long view” with the decisions he makes.
www.WillCountyCED.com
https://tinyurl.com/uzfm4cp​

“Illinois is the freight center for the United States and Will County is Illinois’ freight hub”. These words, spoken by Governor Rauner at the announcement of the state’s commitment to support the new Houbolt Road Bridge connecting I-80 with the Intermodal Center, underscores Will County’s dominance in new logistics development in the Midwest.  With the addition of a third Amazon.com facility in Romeoville, recent announcements by MOM Brands in Wilmington, Samsung in Elwood, and UPS and RJW Logistics in Lockport Will County it is clear global corporations understand the value proposition of the Inland Port.
 
The Will County Center for Economic Development (CED) in April 2017 once again is putting a spotlight on this industry at the 10th Annual Global Logistics Summit at the Bolingbrook Golf Club. This year’s theme is Building the Future: Investing in Infrastructure and Talent. The program will have cover trends in international freight movement and impacts on the Midwest, how we are investing in freight transportation infrastructure locally and nationally and recruiting and retaining the workforce necessary to continue to grow the industry.
 
Speakers include Gregory G. Nadeau, Administrator for the Federal Highway Administration who will speak about the new federal funding to improve freight movement regionally and nationally; Phil Levy, Senior Fellow, Chicago Council on Global Affairs will address the trends in international trade impacting freight movement through the Chicago area; and Ann Schneider former IDOT Secretary to provide an overview of the new Will County Freight Mobility Study.
 
For more information on the Summit go to: www.willcountyced.com