May 12, 2022 
JOLIET – At today’s Executive Committee Meeting Will County Board members voted to move forward with township, Forest Preserve and fire protection district allocations of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Will County was allocated $133 million in federal revenue to support community recovery efforts following the pandemic. 
“Today we made important progress, moving the first allocations of ARPA money,” said Board Speaker Mimi Cowan, of Naperville. “This is one step in a complex process that will take additional time to complete.”  
Board members stressed the importance of meaningful impact for residents. Income, education and employment, among many other factors, will be taken into consideration for allocation of funds.  
“We are being diligent in our collaboration to ensure ARPA dollars go where they are needed most,” said Majority Leader Meta Mueller, Aurora.  “Distribution to these organizations helps us reach underserved communities. Plus, the ARPA funds create paths to provide healthy and safe recreational activities for all our residents.” 
The board is working to structure a comprehensive allocation plan that serves the needs of the entire county.  Through surveys and other public meetings, Will County is continuously engaging stakeholders throughout the community. Additional opportunities for engagement will be announced over the next several months.  
Minority Leader Mike Fricilone, Homer Glen, added, “Townships provide critical services to residents. We want to make sure we are supporting them in their mission.”  
Formal applications are being developed and will be released soon. Please continue to check the Will County Board website for additional updates. The Will County Board intends to offer assistance with applications as needed. 
For more information on the Will County Board please visit www.willcountyboard.com. 
 
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JOLIET –The Will County Board hopes to increase support and funding for caregivers of disabled veterans and service members by becoming a Hidden Heroes community. The Board passed a resolution today that moves the County closer to that designation. Hidden Heroes communities are eligible for funding for military caregivers and have access to more national support networks.
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“This is something that is very near and dear to me,” said County Board Member Natalie Coleman (Plainfield). “My father was a veteran and I’m also a veteran.”

​JOLIET – The Will County Board is seeking public input on the proposed county board district maps which must be redrawn every ten years following the federal census. Two draft maps are available for public review ahead of the October 21st County Board meeting where a final map will be approved.  One map was recommended by the Board reapportionment committee and the other was presented by County Executive Bertino-Tarrant.

“A strong democracy requires active participation by the public and we want Will County residents to offer comments on our two proposed County Board district maps,” said Will County Board Speaker Mimi Cowan (Naperville). “Residents can review maps at various physical locations throughout the county, or online, and submit written comments via email or provide comments at the October 4th public hearing.” 

JOLIET – Will County Board Member Denise Winfrey (Joliet) will moderate a panel on Friday that will examine best practices for counties across the United States that are administering Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) for individuals who face housing insecurity because of the Coronavirus pandemic. The panel is hosted by the National Association of Counties (NACo) of which Winfrey is the First Vice President.

​“I’m very proud of the way that Will County has administered our rental assistance program and I’m honored to be asked to moderate this panel on ERA best practices,” said Winfrey. “Our dedication to our residents is why Will County government is a role model for counties throughout the United States. 

JOLIET – Will County was highlighted by the White House for rapidly delivering rental assistance to tenants in the county, staving off evictions as the pandemic upended the economy and threatened housing stability for many renters. The county was one of 22 state and local governments that were highlighted by the Biden Administration for delivering 85% or more of their rental assistance funds by the end of July.
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“The population of Will County has grown substantially over the last couple of decades, so the County Board was talking about housing before the pandemic shot a hole through the economy,” said Will County Board Speaker Mimi Cowan (Naperville). “When the layoffs started and businesses shut down, we knew we needed to act swiftly to stabilize the rental market both for tenants and landlords.”

JOLIET – The Will County Board today announced that their first budget workshop will be held on August 31st at 9:30 am. This comes as the Board today heard the County Executive’s spending plan of $678 million ($243 million corporate and $435 special funds) for fiscal year 2022. 
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“The County Board looks forward to crafting a sustainable budget that continues our legacy of fiscal responsibility,” said County Board Speaker Mimi Cowan (Naperville).  “We plan to review the Executive’s proposal with a fine-tooth comb and offer suggestions that will get us to a final budget at the November County Board meeting.”