Will County Center for Economic Development

05/28/2026

Congratulations Grace! We are so excited for all of our Will County Summer Internship Program Interns to begin their positions this summer! Thank you, Will County Clerk and our dozens of other employers, for being great hosts to our students year after year!

Please join us in welcoming Grace Orth to the Will County Clerk’s Office!

Grace recently graduated from Joliet West High School and will attend Howard University this fall to study Chemistry. She joined our office to learn more about government administration and gain valuable professional experience. As this is her first job, Grace is excited for the unique opportunity to develop hands-on skills and learn more about public service before beginning college. We are excited to have Grace on our team!

Thank you Will County Center for Economic Development for allowing us to be a part of your internship program.

05/27/2026

⏳ Just two weeks until Eye Opener 2026 sponsored by Stantec!

Join business leaders, elected officials, community partners, and regional stakeholders for one of Will County’s premier business and economic development events. Eye Opener offers a powerful midyear conversation on the future of our region, featuring updates on major developments, transformative projects, and the economic trends driving growth across Will County.

This is your opportunity to gain valuable regional insight while connecting with leaders shaping the future of our business and civic community.

Thank you to Stantec, our Presenting Sponsor, for supporting this important regional conversation.

Event Details:
📅 June 10, 2026
⏰ Doors: 7:15 a.m. | Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. | Program: 8 - 9:15 a.m.
📍 Tuscany Falls | 9425 W. 191st St. Mokena, IL

Secure your spot today: https://willcountyced.com/2026-eye-opener/

05/22/2026

Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined the Will County CED for an unforgettable morning honoring the students of the Will County Summer Internship Program.

Governor JB Pritzker spoke candidly about his own journey, the challenges of finding his path, and the importance of staying open to opportunity as these students begin building futures of their own. His words were a powerful reminder that every career starts somewhere.

What began as a simple belief, that students deserve meaningful, paid opportunities to explore careers and build real world experience, has grown into a workforce initiative making an impact across Will County and beyond. Over the last three summers, more than 230 students have interned with dozens of local employers, earning nearly $1 million in wages while gaining valuable skills, confidence, and connections.

We are proud to see Will County recognized by our state and local leaders as a model for how education, workforce development, and business partnerships can come together to create opportunities and change lives.

05/21/2026

What an incredible day at the inaugural P.O.W.E.R. Small Business Symposium! 💼✨

We are grateful to everyone who attended, partnered, presented, and supported this powerful initiative focused on uplifting and strengthening our small business community. We hope the connections, resources, and conversations shared throughout the day create a lasting positive impact for entrepreneurs across our region.

A special thank you to our inaugural keynote speaker, Dan Seals, President and CEO of Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council, for delivering such powerful insight and inspiration.

We also extend our sincere appreciation to our Presenting Sponsor, Constellation, and our supporting sponsors, Old National Bank, Amazon.com, JJC CEJA Clean Energy Contractor Incubator, Wintrust, and Busey Bank for helping make this event possible.

Thank you as well to our incredible workshop hosts for sharing their expertise, resources, and insights with our attendees:
- Diana Alfaro, Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
- Briana Tellis, Allies for Community Business
- J.R. Charles, SizeUp
- Erica Burton, XRAI Vision
- Troy Sandidge, Hackers

With 30 vendors and resource partners providing valuable services, tools, and opportunities for small businesses, the energy throughout the day was truly inspiring.

05/19/2026

📈 Join us for Eye Opener 2026 presented by Stantec!

The Will County CED invites you to a midyear look at the state of Will County alongside business leaders, community partners, elected officials, and regional stakeholders.

Eye Opener will feature updates on major developments, key initiatives, and important economic indicators shaping the future of our region, along with valuable opportunities to connect with leaders from across Will County’s business and civic community.

Thank you to Stantec, our Presenting Sponsor, for supporting this important regional conversation.

Event Details:
📅 June 10, 2026
⏰ Doors: 7:15 a.m. | Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. | Program: 8 - 9:15 a.m.
📍 Tuscany Falls | 9425 W. 191st St. Mokena, IL

Secure your spot today: https://ow.ly/jlHX50Z1Syy

05/18/2026

With just 2 days to go until the P.O.W.E.R. Small Business Symposium, we want to take a moment to highlight the CED Investors who made this event possible as our proud sponsors.

A special thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, Constellation Energy, for their leadership and support in powering this experience.

We are also grateful for the sponsorship of Old National Bank, Wintrust, Busey Bank, Amazon.com and the Joliet Junior College Clean Energy Contractor Incubator.

This event would not be possible without the commitment of our Investors who continue to invest in regional growth, innovation, and small business success.

We look forward to seeing everyone soon!

Register for the event here: https://ow.ly/lw8M50Z1iol

05/12/2026

Meet the experts, leaders, and changemakers joining us for the inaugural P.O.W.E.R. Small Business Symposium.

From access to capital and AI innovation to economic equity and clean energy opportunities, our speakers are bringing real insights, practical resources, and strategies designed to help entrepreneurs grow and scale.

Join us on May 20, 2026, for a powerful day of connection, learning, and opportunity featuring keynote speaker Dan Seals, CEO of Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council

Registration is completely FREE! Register here: https://ow.ly/mmGx50YYoOx

Speakers:
- Dan Seals, Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council
- Diana Alfaro, Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
- Briana Tellis, Allies for Community Business
- J.R. Charles, SizeUp
- Erica Burton, XRAI Vision
- Troy Sandidge, Strategy Hackers

05/11/2026

🎟️ Tickets are now LIVE for Eye Opener 2026!

Join the Will County Center for Economic Development for a midyear look at the state of Will County alongside business leaders, community partners, elected officials, and regional stakeholders.

Eye Opener will feature updates on major developments, key initiatives, and important economic indicators shaping the future of our region, plus valuable opportunities to connect with leaders from across Will County’s business and civic community.

Event Details:
📅 June 10, 2026
⏰ Doors: 7:15 a.m. | Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. | Program 8 - 9:15 a.m.
📍 Tuscany Falls | 9425 W. 191st St. Mokena, IL

Secure your spot today: https://ow.ly/mefX50YXBPN

05/08/2026

As Economic Development Week comes to a close, we’re reflecting on the power of collaboration, innovation, and regional partnerships in driving long-term growth.

Last week, CED Economic Development Director, Haley Milan, participated in SelectCHI alongside business leaders, economic developers, and partners from across the region to showcase the opportunities throughout Chicagoland and Will County. A major highlight was our investor, Joliet Junior College, presenting on workforce readiness and the importance of building a strong talent pipeline to support continued investment and economic growth.

The conversations throughout the event highlighted the incredible momentum happening across our region, from workforce development and infrastructure to business attraction and community investment.

Thank you to everyone helping move our region forward. We’re excited to keep building that momentum together.

05/07/2026

🎟️ Registration for the P.O.W.E.R. Small Business Symposium is completely FREE! Join us on May 20, 2026, and be part of a powerful day dedicated to uplifting and strengthening our small business community featuring keynote speaker Dan Seals, CEO of Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council.

Register here: https://ow.ly/zKeC50YWgXJ

Small-owned businesses are helping shape the future of Will County and we’re proud to specifically spotlight just a few of the incredible entrepreneurs making an impact across our region. 💼✨

Every business featured in this video is majority women-owned and operated, representing the innovation, resilience, and leadership driving our small business community forward.

We’re excited to continue engaging with and highlighting even more small businesses throughout Will County through future programming, partnerships, and initiatives.

You can visit the amazing businesses featured in the video in the City of Joliet, Illinois, Government. Check out Joliet City Center Partnership to learn about all the great things in the city center!

List of captured businesses:
- Jitters
- The Sewing Cafe
- Internode Greenery & Market
- Audiophil's Records