​The grant application process for the Will County Opioid Program is now open. Will County will direct $2 million in funding in 2025 toward local organizations and agencies whose programs seek to mitigate the opioid epidemic that has claimed so many lives. The Will County Board designated funding from litigation filed against pharmaceutical companies as damages for their role in fueling the public health crisis. Will County Board Members Sherry Williams and Katie Deane-Schlottman were instrumental in creating the grant review process in cooperation with Grants Coordinator Samantha Marcum from the Will County Executive’s Office. The award ceiling for grant recipients is $250,000. Applications close on July 15. For information on the application process, visit:  https://bit.ly/WCOpioidProgram_FY25.

For Immediate Release
December 27, 2024
Contact: [email protected]
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Will County Board Adopts Access Will County Plan
To Improve Dial-A-Ride Services
 
WILL COUNTY – The Will County Board has approved a plan that will expand and streamline transportation opportunities for senior citizens and people with disabilities.

The County Board passed Resolution 24-340 Authorizing the Access Will County Plan on December 19, 2024 which outlines strategies to improve dial-a-ride services.

“It’s gratifying to know that the Will County Board will close the books on 2024 by approving a program that will enable our seniors and people with disabilities to maintain their independence and mobility in our community,” said Will County Board Speaker Joe Van Duyne. “Reliable transportation is critical to everyday life. Access Will County will enhance the network that provides resources for those who otherwise might struggle to make routine trips most of us take for granted.”

The plan outlines goals to improve the transportation network by streamlining the registration process, expanding service areas and hours, standardizing eligibility to participate, and developing a unified fare structure. The plan also recommends Will County take steps toward a consolidated dial-a-ride system that would align with other counties in the Chicagoland region.

The Access Will County Plan resulted from a study of Will County’s dial-a-ride and paratransit services that identified gaps and barriers for residents who require mobility assistance. The study found that many residents face challenges when attempting to access dial-a-ride services, including complicated registration processes, disjointed eligibility requirements, and varying hours of operation, polices, and fare requirements.
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Will County already acted on one of the plan’s short-term goals by partnering with Pace Suburban Bus to expand dial-a-ride services into six southwestern Will County townships: Custer, Florence, Reed, Wesley, Wilmington, and Wilton. Access Will County Dial-a-Ride offers curb-to-curb transportation with flexible routes and scheduling for residents in southwest and eastern Will County.
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To read the full plan, visit www.willcountyillinois.org/access.
 
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