Strong Economic Leadership and New Initiatives Shine at Will County CED Annual Report Breakfast

On December 6, Arvid Johnson, the 2024/2025 Chair of the Will County CED, welcomed over 350 guests to the CED’s Annual Report to Investors breakfast at the Bolingbrook Golf Club.

He expressed his gratitude to the Board of Directors in attendance, inviting them to stand and be recognized for their time, guidance, and leadership in helping make Will County a premier destination for business and growth.

Dr. Johnson also thanked all CED Investors, both those present and those unable to attend, saying, “You make the successes of Will County possible. Thank you for your generous support, and we look forward to 2025 and beyond.”

Doug Pryor, CED President & CEO, addressed the audience, recognizing the extraordinary group of leaders in the room. He acknowledged the event’s sponsors and highlighted the support of elected officials throughout the county, individually identifying those present.

Christy George, President & CEO of Intersect Illinois, was a special guest and shared the “Why Illinois” story. She discussed Illinois’ leadership in new business creation, its status as a top metro for new and expanding companies, and its ranking among the top states for infrastructure and education. Intersect Illinois is the state’s business attraction organization, promoting its assets and collaborating with partners to help companies find a site to call home. The Will County CED is proud to work alongside Intersect Illinois in promoting the state’s economic strengths and supporting business growth in the region.

Doug provided an economic update, highlighting significant wins for Will County:

• Leading the state in job creation, outpacing Wisconsin, Missouri, Kentucky, Michigan, and all but one county in Iowa and Indiana.
• Leading the state in residential home building.
• The county’s population has surpassed 700,000.
• The median household income has exceeded $100,000.

Additionally, Doug shared notable examples of companies investing and reinvesting in Will County, including NLX Beverage Solutions in New Lenox, Up At Dawn in Mokena, PQ Corporation in Joliet, Voortman Steel in Monee, and the Invenergy Center of Excellence in Bolingbrook. He also highlighted major infrastructure projects—both planned and underway—that are driving Will County’s development.

Some key ongoing projects include the highly anticipated Hollywood Casino entertainment complex at Rock Run Collection, Cullinan Property Group’s multi-use development in Joliet, and significant investments by manufacturers like PQ Corporation and Voortman Steel Group, which is establishing a new U.S.-based headquarters.

Pryor also focused on Will County’s 2024 infrastructure projects, such as the rebuild of Interstate 80, Olympic Boulevard connecting I-55 to the west and Houbolt Road to the east, and Will County’s third diverging diamond interchange at Illinois Route 59 and Interstate 55. These upgrades will provide full access, including auxiliary lanes, to enhance safety and traffic flow.

To conclude the morning’s presentation, Pryor highlighted the launch of the Will County Summer Internship Program, in partnership with Joliet Township High School. This year, 38 students were placed in paid internships with local organizations. Thanks to strong community support, the program will expand in 2025 to include seven additional Will County high schools, offering 147 paid internships. These opportunities are listed on the CED website’s Internship Page, with applications open until February 21.

Doug once again thanked all the leaders in the room, whose dedication and efforts help make Will County one of the most desirable places to work, invest, learn, live, and play.