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Economic Upswing Underway in Will County
By Rex Robinon – The Times Weekly
One sign of economic development in Will County is construction of the Illinois Department of Corrections Inpatient Treatment Center in Joliet, which will have a hospital facility in 2021.This 200-bed hospital will function as a therapeutic environment with round-the-clock care to meet the critical mental health needs of inmates in the region. The new facility will result in more than 400 jobs. The facility will serve as a national model for mental health treatment in corrections.
Like the winds of change blowing through with the arrival of spring, many are hopeful the local job market will quickly start to improve as more receive COVID vaccines and more businesses, especially restaurants, are able to ramp up productivity and hire more employees.
The most recent available unemployment figure for Will County of 8.3 percent is from February. However, local officials are confident that does not tell the tale of what’s happening now.
Unemployment levels in Will County have remained elevated since the start of the pandemic. It peaked at 17.4 percent in April of 2020, then fell to as low as 6.2 percent in November.
“Will County experiences a seasonal peak during the first quarter of each year as construction work slows in the cold weather,” said Doug Pryor, vice president of economic development for the Will County Center for Economic Development. “We expect a strong bounce back in the spring.”
More In The News
Regional Partnership for Economic Development Announced
The new Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership was announced this week and includes the City of Chicago, Cook County and six counties across the northeastern Illinois region including Will County.
Annual Report Speaks To Will County
Ruth Colby, CED Board Chair, welcomed more than 250 guests and thanked members of the CED Board for their time, guidance, and leadership in making the CED and Will County the best it can be. She reflected on the CED’s forty-one years of success. In 2022 forty-three investor organizations marked 30 years or more of investment in the CED, which was commemorated through presentations of Certificates of Appreciation recognizing their commitment to community and their partnership with the Will County Center for Economic Development.
CED Infrastructure Coalition Hears the Latest News
The CED’s Infrastructure Coalition met recently for a mid-year update on State and regional transportation projects, studies, and plans. This important CED Coalition’s mission and charge is making sure Will County is meeting the infrastructure needs of our businesses and residents.