JOLIET – The Will County Board ad-hoc CARES Act Funding Committee today approved another $1 million in relief funding for small businesses negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Grants in the amount of $10,000 are available to businesses that have not already received CARES relief.
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“The County Board has been working non-stop to deliver pandemic relief funds to residents, businesses, and nonprofit organizations,” said County Board Speaker Mimi Cowan (Naperville). “Even as we distribute the last of the CARES funds, we are looking at how to allocate the latest round of federal relief for Will County.”

JOLIET – The Will County Board took action today on several issues including federal COVID relief funding, and the renewable natural gas plant at the Prairie View Landfill. The board is also awaiting bid responses for the construction of the County Morgue which are due by the end of the month. 

“Although the pandemic continues to take priority for the County Board, we are also moving forward on several other projects as we lay the groundwork for our county to grow responsibly into the future,” said County Board Speaker Mimi Cowan (Naperville). 

JOLIET – The Will County Board Executive Committee began discussions about how to allocate $133 million directed to the County through the American Rescue Plan recently passed by Congress. The $1.9 trillion federal legislation directed $360 billion dollars toward state, county, tribal, and local governments for relief from the hardships brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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“There is no question that we have gone through the hardest year that any of us have experienced,” said Will County Board Speaker Mimi Cowan. “The American Rescue Plan presents us with a once in a lifetime opportunity to provide assistance now to our residents, and we intend to maximize these dollars by targeting efforts that will leverage other resources and create opportunities for growth into the future.”

JOLIET—The Will County Board took another step toward providing rental assistance to county residents that have been impacted by the pandemic. The Board authorized an intergovernmental agreement at their March board meeting with the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) to coordinate Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) for individuals and families struggling to pay rent in Will County.
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As part of the pandemic relief plan, the United States Treasury granted $20.6 million to Will County for rental assistance. The County will work with IHDA, which also received a grant from the federal government, so services are not duplicated and maximum relief is provided for residents. The ERA will provide direct financial assistance for rent and utilities. 

JOLIET – The Will County Board gave the go ahead to begin the process of issuing general obligation bonds for construction of a renewable natural gas production facility at the Prairie View Landfill. The action is a first step as Will County moves to harness millions of dollars of methane gas produced by the landfill and convert it into compressed natural gas that can be widely sold on the open market. It is estimated that when fully operational the facility will generate as much as $12 million per year for the Will County’s general fund.
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“Today’s action is another step towards diversifying our revenue base in Will County which will help fund vital public programs by using our existing resources, in this case methane gas produced by the Prairie View Landfill,” said Mimi Cowan, Speaker of the Will County Board.

 JOLIET – The Will County Board is urging residents to participate in an online survey to share their input regarding land use in the region as the Board continues on their path toward finalizing the Moving Will County plan. This survey comes on the heels of the February 24th public workshop where plans for land preservation and development were shared with the public.   The survey can be found at www.MovingWillCounty.org. 
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“Transportation, distribution, and logistics centers have brought a dramatic change to Will County and we need our residents to share their ideas and concerns for preservation and development here,” said Will County Board Speaker Mimi Cowan (Naperville). “The plan we are working on will help decide the trajectory of development in our communities for decades and it is vital that those plans reflect the needs of County residents.”

JOLIET—The Will County Board today voted to begin negotiations with the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) to coordinate Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) for individuals and families struggling to pay rent in Will County. The United States Treasury granted $20.6 million to Will County for rental assistance. The County will work with IHDA, which also received a grant from the federal government, so services are not duplicated and maximum relief is provided for residents. The ERA will provide direct financial assistance for rent and utilities.
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“Countless residents have suffered great financial hardship during the COVID pandemic, and this type of direct housing aid can go a long way towards returning them to a sound financial footing,” said Mimi Cowan, Speaker of the Will County Board. 

JOLIET – In a special meeting today, the Will County Board authorized a contract for a new COVID-19 call center to assist the Will County Health Department with their call response. The Health Department has been inundated with inquiries in the last few weeks from residents seeking information on COVID-19 vaccinations. 
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“The Health Department has been overwhelmed fielding calls from residents seeking information about the vaccine,” said County Board Speaker Mimi Cowan (Naperville). “The County Board has stepped in with extra funding to make sure residents get the information that they need and can get scheduled for a vaccination appointment.”

JOLIET – The Will County Board Capital Improvements Committee took the first formal step today to begin construction of a new county morgue by approving the framework of the process to bid out the design and building of this critical facility.
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“County Board members have seen firsthand the need for a new morgue and are working together to address this issue,” said County Board Speaker Mimi Cowan.  “Will County is a growing county that must continue to be aggressive in planning for our future growth and I believe this project has bipartisan support to move forward.” 

JOLIET – The Will County Board approved the next steps to convert methane gas produced at the Prairie View Landfill into compressed natural gas. The board voted today to select SCS Energy to design and build a plant to convert the methane to renewable natural gas. Harbour Contractors from Plainfield will lead the construction piece of this project.  Currently, some methane gas is converted into electricity at the landfill with the remainder being burned off.
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“Will County is a leader in green technology and environmental sustainability,” said Speaker of the County Board Mimi Cowan (D-Naperville.) “Whether it is solar electricity for the new courthouse, or trash at the landfill, we have an obligation to reduce our carbon footprint and lead the way toward a more sustainable community.”