Finance Committee: County Appropriates Fees from $25 Million Wilmington Warehouse Project
Will County Board Finance Committee Meeting | January 6, 2026
Article Summary: The Finance Committee approved the appropriation of an administrative fee tied to a major industrial renovation in Wilmington. The project involves a multi-million dollar upgrade to a warehouse facility within the Joliet Arsenal Enterprise Zone.
Wilmington Project Key Points:
-
Project Value: A $25 million “re-rack” and renovation of a warehouse in Wilmington.
-
County Revenue: Will County received a $50,000 administrative fee for processing the enterprise zone benefits.
-
Incentive: The business receives a 12-month sales tax exemption on construction materials.
-
Traffic Impact: County staff described traffic increases as “de minimis.”
JOLIET, IL – The Will County Board Finance Committee on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, approved the appropriation of a $50,000 payment into the Land Use Department budget, stemming from a large-scale industrial project in Wilmington.
The payment is an administrative fee collected by the county for a project located within the Joliet Arsenal Enterprise Zone (JAEZ). According to county staff, the project involves a $25 million investment to “re-rack” and redesign the layout of a warehouse facility.
The enterprise zone program is a state incentive designed to spur business development. In exchange for the investment, the business receives a sales tax exemption on building materials for 12 months. The $50,000 fee collected by the county is the maximum administrative charge allowed under state law for handling the exemption.
Board Member Julie Berkowicz questioned the potential impact on local infrastructure. “What about the impact of the roads in this area and traffic?” she asked.
County staff described the potential traffic impact as “de minimis,” noting that because the facility is an existing warehouse, the primary increase in activity would be temporary construction traffic rather than a permanent spike in logistics volume.
Staff also highlighted that the Joliet Arsenal Enterprise Zone and the Des Plaines River Valley Enterprise Zone are currently considered two of the most successful zones in the state for generating development.
The committee voted unanimously to appropriate the funds.
Mostly Sunny
Latest News Stories
Will County Health Department Seeks $1 Million to Avert ‘Drastic’ Service Cuts from Expiring Grants
Will County’s “First-in-Nation” Veterans Center to House Workforce Services, Sparking Debate
Improved Vendor Service Creates $1.2 Million Shortfall in Sheriff’s Medical Budget
Will County Public Works Committee Unveils 25-Year Transportation Plan, Projects $258 Million Gap
Will County Animal Protection Services Seeks New Facility Amid “Gaping Wound” of Space Crisis
Board Confronts Animal Services Crowding, Explores Future Facility Options
Will County Board Members Demand Transparency in Cannabis Tax Fund Allocation
Homer Glenn Residents Push Back on 143rd Street Widening as Officials Signal “Tentative Agreement”
Will County Forges 2026 Federal Agenda Amid D.C. Policy Shifts, ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Impacts
Health Department Seeks $1 Million Levy Increase to Prevent “Weakened System”
County Rolls Out New “OneMeeting” Software to Improve Public Access
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Finance Committee for August 5, 2025
Will County PZC Approves Rezoning for Truck Repair Facility on Manhattan Road Amid Resident Concerns
Key Stretch of Bell Road on Track for Thanksgiving Reopening, Committee Approves Additional Funds
