Workforce Investment Board of Will County

What Workforce Investment Board of Will County does

The Workforce Investment Board (WIB) of Will County is a local government workforce development board appointed by the County Executive under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Established in 1996, it operates from Joliet, Illinois and serves Will County within the Chicago Metropolitan Region. The Board oversees the local public workforce system and coordinates a 23-member multi-stakeholder governance body spanning business, community, education, one-stop partners, economic development agencies, and labor executives. It administers WIOA-funded training and employment programs targeting job seekers, adults, dislocated workers, youth, and Will County employers across Healthcare, Manufacturing, Professional/Financial/IT Services, and Transportation/Distribution/Logistics industries.

Core service offerings include Employee Training Grants (Incumbent Worker Training) for employer upskilling, Virtual Reality Career Exploration for immersive occupational discovery, career skills workshops covering Microsoft Office, résumé building, and interview tactics, weekly Spotlight Tuesday employer engagement events, the Connect to Your Future Youth Program, specialized veteran and ability job fairs, quarterly labor market and economic reports, and a One-Stop Workforce Center of Will County that relocated to 1300 Copperfield Avenue on March 4, 2026. The organization runs a Mobile Workforce Center visiting libraries across Plainfield, Crete, New Lenox, Wilmington, Steger, and Fountaindale, and coordinates with Veterans Assistance Commission, Will County Problem Solving Courts, high school districts, faith-based organizations, and local municipalities. It has 1-10 paid operational employees supplemented by an appointed volunteer board.

Revenue is derived entirely from public appropriations. Primary funding flows from the U.S. Department of Labor under WIOA, allocated by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, with the County of Will serving as the Board's Fiscal Agent. Specific revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. The Board has no proprietary technology platform, charges no fees to participants or employers, and operates programs at no cost to eligible youth, adults, dislocated workers, and Will County employers.

Name

Workforce Investment Board of Will County

Legal name

Workforce Investment Board of Will County

Website

https://willcountyworkforceboard.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Workforce Investment Board of Will County is a WIOA-designated government workforce development board serving Will County, Illinois. It administers publicly funded job training, incumbent worker grants, youth programs, and employer services via the Workforce Center of Will County One-Stop network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Administration of Human Resource Programs (except Education, Public Health, and Veterans' Affairs Programs) (92313), Employment Placement Agencies (561311)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Workforce Development Programs (WIOA/One-Stop Career Centers) (EDAAAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Incumbent Worker Training & Upskilling (EDAAAOAE), Workforce Development, Employment Readiness & Job Placement (BPADAKAE)

Keywords

• Workforce development services
• WIOA employment programs
• Incumbent worker training
• Career center services
• Youth workforce programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Joliet

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: The Workforce Investment Board receives federal workforce development funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), allocated by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The County of Will serves as the Board's Fiscal Agent. This is a public workforce system that does not generate commercial revenue.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Workforce Investment Board of Will County is the statutorily designated Local Workforce Development Board for Will County, Illinois, operating under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). It oversees and funds the Workforce Center of Will County and Mobile Workforce Centers that deliver employment, training, employer engagement, and youth career services to county residents and local businesses.

Product overview

The Workforce Investment Board of Will County operates a comprehensive workforce development ecosystem comprising the Workforce Center of Will County as the primary service hub, offering Employee Training Grants for incumbent worker upskilling, Virtual Reality Career Exploration for immersive career discovery, Career Skills Workshops covering Microsoft Office and professional development, Spotlight Tuesday employer events, a Youth Program, and a network of workforce system partners. The organization also provides workforce reports and economic data to inform regional planning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Workforce Center of Will County: One-stop career center operated in partnership with the Workforce Investment Board, providing job search assistance, training resources, and employer connections.
• Workforce Services Division of Will County
• Connect to Your Future Youth Program

Products and services

• Workforce Center of Will County
• Mobile Workforce Centers
• Employee Training Grants (Incumbent Worker Training)
• Connect to Your Future Youth Program
• Spotlight Tuesday Employer Events
• Virtual Reality Career Exploration
• Career Skills Workshops
• Workforce System Partners Network

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• U.S. Department of LaborcoreOthersPrimary federal funding source for workforce development activities under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Funds are allocated through state channels to local workforce boards for job training and employment programs.
• Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic OpportunitycoreOthersState agency responsible for allocating federal workforce development funds to local boards including the Workforce Investment Board of Will County.
• County of WillcoreOthersServes as the Fiscal Agent for the Workforce Investment Board, providing administrative and financial oversight for workforce development funds.
• Joliet Junior CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey educational partner providing workforce education and training programs. Board member representation from Joliet Junior College's workforce education division.
• University of St. FrancisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution partner represented on the board, supporting workforce development initiatives.
• Workforce Partners of Metropolitan ChicagomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional workforce development collaboration network connecting workforce boards across the Chicago Metropolitan Region.
• Chicago Cook Workforce PartnershipmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdjacent workforce board partnership for regional workforce development coordination in the Chicago metropolitan area.
• DuPage County Workforce Innovation BoardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeighboring county workforce board partnership for regional coordination.
• Lake County Workforce Investment BoardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeighboring county workforce board partnership for regional coordination.
• McHenry County Workforce Investment BoardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeighboring county workforce board partnership for regional coordination.
• Kane, Kendall, DeKalb Workforce Development DivisionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional workforce development partnership covering Kane, Kendall, and DeKalb counties.
• Grundy Livingston Kankakee Workforce BoardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional workforce development partnership for Grundy, Livingston, and Kankakee counties.
• National Association of Workforce BoardsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational membership organization providing advocacy, resources, and best practices for local workforce development boards.
• Illinois Workforce PartnershipmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level workforce development advocacy and coordination organization for Illinois workforce boards.
• Veterans Assistance Commission of Will CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey system partner providing veteran-specific workforce services through the Workforce Center, including Hiring Our Heroes events.
• Will County Problem Solving CourtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing workforce services to individuals involved in the court system.
• Will County High School DistrictscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partners providing youth workforce development pathways and career exploration programs.
• Community and Faith Based OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity outreach partners providing workforce services and connections to underserved populations.
• Local LibrariesmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner locations hosting Mobile Workforce Center visits and workforce workshops throughout Will County.
• Will County MunicipalitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partners collaborating on workforce development initiatives across Will County communities.
• Workforce Services Division of Will CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary operating partner administering workforce programs through the Workforce Center of Will County.
• Will County Center for Economic DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic development partner represented on the board, connecting workforce development with county economic priorities.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Illinois Workforce Partnership: State-level umbrella organization for Illinois WIOA workforce boards. Provides advocacy, coordination, and best-practices dissemination; the Will County Board is a member but it operates at a meta-level rather than directly serving job seekers.

Direct peers

• Workforce Services Division of Will County: County-level operating partner that actually delivers workforce programs through the Workforce Center of Will County under the Workforce Investment Board's oversight. Functions as the Board's operational arm and is the most directly comparable service-delivery entity.
• Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership: Workforce development board for Chicago/Cook County under WIOA. The closest functional peer in scale and structure, operating a similar One-Stop system and partner network in the same Chicago Metropolitan Region as the Will County Board.
• Grundy Livingston Kankakee Workforce Board: Multi-county WIOA workforce board serving Grundy, Livingston, and Kankakee counties. Directly comparable in regulatory structure and is a regional partner of the Will County Board.
• McHenry County Workforce Investment Board: Neighboring Illinois county workforce investment board under WIOA. Operates an analogous One-Stop service model and is a regional coordination partner in the Chicago Metropolitan Region.
• Kane, Kendall, DeKalb Workforce Development Division: Multi-county WIOA workforce development division serving Kane, Kendall, and DeKalb counties. Regional coordination partner with Will County and comparable in mandate and program mix.
• Lake County Workforce Investment Board: Neighboring county WIOA workforce board with the same statutory mandate, governance structure, and operating model. Coordinates regionally with Will County under the Illinois Workforce Partnership.
• DuPage County Workforce Innovation Board: Adjacent county WIOA workforce board in the Chicago Metro Region. Directly comparable structure (county-appointed board under WIOA, training provider oversight, employer engagement) and actively partnered with the Will County Board.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Workforce Boards: National membership organization for the nation's 600+ local workforce development boards. Compares as a broad incumbent in the same WIOA-funded workforce board ecosystem rather than a direct service competitor.

Emerging players

• Joliet Junior College Workforce Education Division: Educational partner providing workforce training programs in Will County and a board member of the WIB. Comparable in delivering incumbent worker training and occupational skills instruction, though its primary mission is higher education rather than workforce system oversight.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/willcountywib
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC77KVCrO3rVK6XoQbj5QAGg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/workforce-investment-board-of-will-county

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Workforce Investment Board of Will County