Amazon Invests $500K For Workforce Development In Will County

WILL COUNTY, IL — Amazon announced a donation of $500,000 Thursday to the Community Foundation of Will County that will be used for workforce development and education in the county.

The CFWC has established an advisory committee comprising leaders in education, economic development and workforce development, who will bring resources and best practices from their respective organizations to establish criteria and seek opportunities for investment, according to a release.

"We are grateful and excited about the grant from Amazon," said Rod Tonelli, president of the CFWC. "Will County has experienced the most rapid growth in the region during the past decade and this investment will propel a cooperative effort to ensure that we continue to be a location of choice for companies like Amazon. This is exactly the type of initiative that the Community Foundation is intended for — connecting people who care with causes that matter."

During a virtual news conference last week, David Livingston, president of Romeoville's Lewis University, said he’s excited about this collaboration identify sustainable investments for the future. He will chair the advisory committee and work with his team to identify and meet the needs of the "future economy."

Since 2010, Amazon has invested $8 billion in Illinois including infrastructure and employee compensation. The company has created 36,000 jobs in the state and continues hiring. Sarah Glavin, Amazon’s Chicago Senior Manager of External Affairs, said the CFWC has a "solid track record of expanding opportunity and increasing the capacity of existing non-profit organizations in Will County."

"Amazon is committed to being a positive force in the Chicago region and this grant will allow us to invest in workforce development initiatives in Will County that will benefit all of its residents," she said.

The committee will begin its work in March and leverage the experts in their respective organizations to accelerate the work of establishing grant criteria and seeking out projects and programs for investment.

Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant expressed her gratitude for the grant and enthusiasm about the initiative.

"Will County has proven itself to be a location of choice for world-class organizations like Amazon," she said. "This generous investment in workforce development and the expertise of the Advisory Committee can help keep us in the lead by ensuring we have a workforce that can meet current and future opportunities."

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