Will County’s “First-in-Nation” Veterans Center to House Workforce Services, Sparking Debate

ARTICLE SUMMARY: The new Will County Veteran’s Assistance & Support Center will also become the home for the county’s Workforce Services department, a move officials say will save approximately $250,000 in annual rent but which drew questions from board members about future expansion space for veteran needs.

Capital Improvements Committee Meeting Key Points:

• Floors one and two of the 1300 Copperfield building in Joliet are being renovated for the Veteran’s Assistance Commission (VAC), more than doubling its current space to 35,000 square feet.

• The third floor will be built out for Workforce Services, which will relocate from a rented facility.

• Officials are developing a five-year plan for the fourth floor, with possibilities including emergency housing for homeless veterans or rental space for veteran-focused non-profits.

• The entire project is progressing toward a late 2025 completion, though supply chain issues with air handling units present a potential delay.

JOLIET, IL – Will County’s ambitious plan to create a “first-in-the-nation” veterans support campus will include housing the county’s Workforce Services department, a move that sparked debate among Capital Improvements & IT Committee members Tuesday over long-term space for veteran programs.

During a facilities update, county staff confirmed that while the first two floors of the recently acquired building at 1300 Copperfield are dedicated to the Veteran’s Assistance Commission (VAC), the third floor is slated for Workforce Services.

County staff member Mike Mahoney explained the move will save the county approximately $250,000 per year by eliminating the need to rent a separate facility for the department.

The revelation prompted questions from Committee Member Julie Berkowicz, who voiced concern that allocating a floor to another department could limit the VAC’s ability to grow.

“My concern is about expenditures and costs to the county,” Berkowicz said. “Our veteran needs are expanding… Are we taking away the ability to expand those services in Copperfield?”

Mahoney countered that the project dramatically increases the VAC’s footprint from its current 12,000 square feet to 35,000 square feet. He assured the committee that the county is working closely with VAC leadership and planning for the future.

“The good news is your concerns are unwarranted,” Mahoney said. “We are doubling, tripling the space that VAC currently has and we meet with the VAC regularly… We’re working on about a five-year plan with the VAC for future space needs and what that fourth floor can entail.”

Potential uses for the top floor include emergency housing for homeless veterans, which would require a zoning change and 24/7 staffing, or creating space that veteran-focused non-profits could rent from the county.

The project, described as the first of its kind in the nation, creates a comprehensive campus by co-locating the expanded VAC services next to a federal VA clinic and the Hope Manor residential facility. Mahoney noted that federal, state, and local officials are in regular contact and excited about the project.

Berkowicz requested documentation of the County Board’s vote to approve the renovation for Workforce Services. Staff indicated the funding was part of the overall budget approval for the Copperfield building project passed last year and would provide the record.

Construction on the VAC and Workforce Services spaces is underway, with a total buildout cost expected to be under $3.5 million. The project has faced some supply chain delays for critical components like rooftop air handlers, which are now expected in late September. While officials are hopeful for a fall completion, the timeline may extend to the end of the year.