Will County Board Approves Tax Abatement Intent for “Project North Winds” Manufacturing Facility
Will County Board Meeting | April 16, 2026
Article Summary: The Will County Board signaled its intent to offer a 50% property tax abatement to “Project North Winds,” a proposed manufacturing facility expected to bring nearly 2,500 jobs to the Joliet and Channahon area.
Project North Winds Key Points:
-
Resolution 26-060 authorizes the County Executive to negotiate a five-year, 50% ad valorem tax abatement.
-
The development focuses on trailer equipment manufacturing, including dry and refrigerated trailers and truck bodies.
-
The project is projected to generate 2,475 new full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs over a three-year period.
-
The target sites are located at 3835 Youngs Road in Channahon and 2200 Channahon Road in Joliet.
The Will County Board on Thursday, March 19, 2026, voted 20-1 to approve a resolution of intent to negotiate a substantial property tax abatement to lure a major trailer equipment manufacturing facility to the county.
According to Resolution 26-060, “Project North Winds” has requested a five-year, 50% abatement of the county’s ad valorem property taxes as an incentive to locate its operations across two sites: 3835 Youngs Road in Channahon and 2200 Channahon Road in Joliet. In exchange, the developer expects to generate 2,475 new full-time equivalent jobs over three years.
During the March 19 meeting, Board Member Daniel J. Butler (R-Frankfort)—who cast the sole dissenting vote—questioned the process, asking if the final negotiated contract would return to the Board before final approval.
Assistant State’s Attorney Meyers confirmed that the Board will have the final say. “The final agreement to the abatement is subject to a completion of all those terms,” Meyers told the Board. “So, it does have to come back before the Board to make sure that those terms were put in place and fulfilled. You will see this a second time.”
The resolution formally directs the Will County Clerk to abate 50% of the county’s property taxes for five years once a contractual agreement is finalized. The expansion is expected to focus on the production of dry and refrigerated trailers and truck bodies.
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
Executive Committee Advances Dissolution of Southeast Joliet Sanitary District
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Legislative Committee for January 6, 2026
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Capital Improvements & IT Committee for January 6, 2026
Public Works Committee: $18.8 Million Contract Awarded for Lorenzo Road Bridge Over BNSF Railway
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Public Health & Safety Committee for January 7, 2026
Executive Committee: Relaxes Rules for Retiring Employee Proclamations
Lobbyist Updates: State Session Resumes; Transit Safety Concerns Raised
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Finance Committee for January 6, 2026
Capital Imp Committee: Facilities Director Reports on VAC Progress and Critical Health Department Elevator Repairs
‘Good Food For All’ Initiative Proposes Local Agricultural Asset Mapping for Will County
Public Works Committee Advances $3.2 Million Engineering Contract for Mills Road Reconstruction
Board Members Debate “Commitment to Truth” in Media Resolution
Executive Committee: Speaker VanDuyne and Member Butler Clash Over Removal of Committee Chair
Finance Committee: County Appropriates Fees from $25 Million Wilmington Warehouse Project
