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.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
Federal Update: DHS Shutdown, War Powers, and Housing Legislation Dominate Washington
Will County Corporate Revenues Surpass Expectations, Igniting Debate Over Delinquent Tax Sales
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Public Works and Transportation Committee for March 3, 2026
Will County Grants Extensions for Seven Solar and Commercial Projects Amid Permitting Delays
Will County Committee Postpones Liquor, Ad-Hoc Committee: Gaming, and Tobacco Ordinance Updates Amid Extensive Revisions
Beecher Village Board Approves Street Sweeping Contract and State Right-of-Way Resolution
Beecher Elementary Principal Resigns Amid Slew of Personnel and Contract Approvals
Land Use Committee Approves 4.98-Megawatt Solar Facility on Eagle Lake Road Near Peotone
Will County Advances Nearly $1.5 Million in Right-of-Way and Improvement Agreements for Weber, Gougar, and Laraway Roads
Public Works Committee: Approves $1.59 Million Contract for Scheer Road Bridge Replacement in Green Garden Township
Will County Board Backs $10 Million State Public Health Grant Increase Amid Funding Cuts
Barn Fire on Whispering Hills Lane Claims Livestock, Draws Extensive Mutual Aid Response
Will County Public Works Committee Shelves License Plate Reader Agreement Amid Bipartisan Privacy Concerns
Will County Planning and Zoning Commission Overrides Staff to Approve New Lenox Accessory Building Variance
