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.