Will County Business Partners
Business Assistance in Will County, IllinoisKey economic development partners the Will County CED collaborates with regularly are outlined below. The CED can assist you in navigating your project through any of these resources.

Will County Business Development Partners & Utilities
The Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Helps Businesses Looking to Expand and/or Relocate
DCEO accentuates Illinois’ position as the nation’s transportation hub, manufacturing center and fourth largest technology economy. The agency actively promotes the state’s healthy business climate, highly-productive workforce, and entrepreneurial spirit.
DCEO provides a wide array of programs and services, including expansion incentives, technology support services, access to capital, or job training and education for workers, all designed to help Illinois businesses thrive in the global economy.
ComEd Economic & Workforce Development Group
The ComEd Economic & Workforce Development group provides resources and program information to assist businesses. Whether you are looking to expand or move your business here, plug into the ComEd Economic Development Team.
Nicor Gas for New Construction & Existing Business Expansion
Nicor Gas has worked with hundreds of builders and developers to bring abundant, American and affordable natural gas to their projects. The link below provides a comprehensive resource page for new construction and existing business expansion projects.
Aqua America Inc.
Aqua owns and operates more than 1,400 public water systems and more than 187 wastewater treatment plans and collection systems that serve more than three million people across eight states. Aqua is an industry leader among wastewater management and private water companies, setting the standard for water quality, infrastructure, customer service and community involvement.
AT&T
As the first truly modern media company, AT&T has been changing the way people live, work and play for more than 140 years. It started with Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone. Since then, our legacy of innovation has included the invention of the transistor – the building block of today’s digital world – as well as the solar cell, the communications satellite and machine learning.
Illinois American Water
Illinois American Water welcomes the chance to help developers, engineers, contractors, suppliers, vendors, and municipalities solve their water and wastewater system operations, management, supply and delivery challenges. We’re committed to working with you to improve our communities and infrastructure.
Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC)
IMEC is a team of improvement specialists dedicated to providing manufacturers in Illinois with the tools and techniques to excel and compete globally. The experienced hands-on team at IMEC works closely with its clients to plan critical business improvements in all areas of their organization from: Leading their Company, Planning for Success, Growing their Business, Improving their Operations, Focusing on their People, and Deciding with Data.
With more than 50 full-time staff and partners positioned statewide, IMEC delivers the local expertise to not only plan and strategize, but to implement and evaluate the effectiveness of client improvements. In fact, IMEC assists more than 1,500 companies each year with successful business improvement projects.
As a result, IMEC has demonstrated a return on investment that exceeds 19:1. This is made possible as organizations become more effective and efficient.
MEP National Network
As a NIST MEP approved Center, IMEC is the official representative of the MEP National Network in Illinois.
The MEP National Network is a unique public-private partnership that delivers comprehensive, proven solutions to U.S. manufacturers, fueling growth and advancing U.S. manufacturing.
For more information visit https://www.imec.org/
Intersect Illinois
Established in 2016, Intersect Illinois is dedicated to driving business growth, creating jobs and providing unbeatable customer service, topped off with our famous Midwestern hospitality and work ethic.
Interested in exploring Illinois for your next relocation or expansion project? Intersect Illinois and its network of partners throughout the state—including the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity —is committed to providing you and your clients with the information and resources to make your investment decision.
The Illinois Energy Conservation Authority, NFP (IECA)
The Illinois Energy Conservation Authority, NFP (IECA), is an Illinois tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that was formed to bring innovative PACE program administration to Illinois and currently administers programs in most of northern Illinois, along with other urban centers across the state.
IECA is the leading C-PACE program administrator in the state and continues to expand adoption of the IECA PACE program to participating communities across the State.
Will County C-PACE Program
To continue pursuing economic development, sustainability, and job creation, Will County is now accepting applications for the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program.
C-PACE is a financing mechanism that offers fixed-rate interest, long-term financing for energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation, and resiliency projects on commercial and industrial properties, both in existing buildings and in new construction projects. Up to 100% of project costs can be financed by qualified capital providers, then repaid over the lifetime of the project as an assessment on the property’s regular tax bill. By reducing initial cost barriers, this program helps participating commercial property owners implement energy efficient capital improvements and avoid deferring maintenance.
Illinois’ PACE Act (Public Act 100-0980, first effective in 2019) authorizes local governments in the state to establish PACE programs for commercial buildings in their jurisdictions. After Will County staff determined the details of the program with the nonprofit Illinois Energy Conservation Authority (IECA) as Program Administrator, the Will County Board approved the Will County C-PACE Program in November 2020, and the program officially launched in March 2021.
Program Details and Contact
Overview | The Illinois Energy Conservation Authority NFP (iecapace.org)
Ready to Learn More ?
Contact:
Pete Kelly
Vice President, Economic Development
815-774-6060
We are here to guide and assist you in meeting your business goals.
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