Incorporated in 1914, the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry was established to serve as the collective voice initiating action for the betterment of the entire community. The Chamber’s current mission reflects these same goals: “to advance the interests of business, professional, and service organizations in the Joliet region, acting as their voice in governmental and social affairs, communicating and servicing their needs, and thereby enhancing the business environment and the local quality of life.”

The Chamber’s board of directors, elected by the membership, sets Chamber policy regarding all phases of the organization’s internal and external programs. A full-time, professional staff carries out the day-to-day administration of the organization. Member businesses work together through the volunteer committees to carry out the goals and objectives set by the board of directors. This Chamber partnership serves as a support structure for the greater Joliet business community. The effects of this partnership are realized and made visible through the efforts of business people who volunteer their time to serve the Chamber in the divisions, committees and special projects detailed below. All Chamber members are invited to take advantage of this partnership and to participate in the Chamber’s program and activities.

Direct benefits

• Advertising opportunities
• Resident Connect Program: An inexpensive and effective way for your business to be among the first to welcome new area residents.
• Vision: A variety of ways to advertise in monthly newsletters sent to all Chamber members.
• Profile/Membership Directory: Classified by products/services offered.
• City map: Updated street map of Joliet with member advertising opportunities.
• Business listings on the Chamber website at www.jolietchamber.com.

Business opportunities

• Membership labels, lists and reports: Available to Chamber members for direct marketing.
• Referral service: Member business information provided by category in response to thousands of inquiries each year.

Committee participation

• Participate in various Chamber and community programs.

Chamber and community programs

• Business/Community Expo: A two-day opportunity to display your products and/or services to the business community and community at large.
• Education opportunities
• Community Leadership School: An opportunity for employees of member businesses to be informed and challenged about key topics and issues facing the Joliet region.

Network opportunities

• Business-After-Hours: Held at various member locations the last Thursday of each month from 5 to 7 p.m.
• Business Showcase: Hosting opportunity for new, newly renovated or expanded businesses.
• Monthly luncheons or breakfasts: “Hot Topics” presented each month.
• Annual golf outing: Networking event for members and community business people.
• New member orientation: Quarterly receptions giving new members an opportunity to network with each other and meet the Chamber staff.
• New Orleans North: Street Festival the second Friday every June. Joliet brings the music, food and fun of New Orleans to downtown for all to enjoy.
• Fiesta En LaCalle: Celebrating Mexican Independence Day with a festival that brings music, food, dancing and fun to the streets of downtown Joliet.
• Council for Working Women: Division of the Chamber promoting opportunities for women in the region and supporting activities in which will enhance the abilities of women.
• Joliet Area Young Professionals: Division of the Chamber providing networking, professional development, and community service opportunities for those between 21-40 years of age.
• Alianza De Negocios: Division of the Chamber acting as a catalyst for business development in the Latino community locally and regionally by empowered business owners, potential business owners and professionals for the creation of greater prosperity.
• African American Business Association: Division of the Chamber advocating for the creation, growth, and general welfare of African American businesses throughout the Joliet region, while fostering economic development in the African American community of the Joliet region.

Legislative opportunities

• Springfield Drive-Down: Meetings with state legislative leaders each spring.
• Washington Fly-In: Meetings with congressional leaders on Capitol Hill each fall.
• Unified voice: Opportunity provided on business matters with the City Council, the State Legislature and Congress.

Membership recognition

• ATHENA Award: Annual award acknowledging outstanding leadership.
• Business awards: Annual presentation to service, retail/wholesale, small manufacturer/small industry, and financial service/real estate categories.

Other benefits

• Relocation Inquiries: Packets mailed to new or prospective residents to introduce them to our community and our member businesses. Included are member lists of restaurants/lounges, motels/hotels, realtors/appraisers, and medical facilities.
• Product/service inquiries: Members-only business referrals.
• Membership Directory and Buyer’s Guide: 1,500 directories are distributed annually to members and non-members.
• Brochure/information racks: Display area provided to members for written materials and brochures.
• Tax deduction: Chamber membership is 98 percent deductible as a business expense.
• Website: Business listings, Chamber and community information at www.jolietchamber.com.
• Employee involvement: Employee participation in Chamber events and programs provides exposure within the business community and demonstrates your support for the community in which you do business.
• Visa/MasterCard/Discover/American Express: Credit cards accepted as payment for all services.

Chamber member services

• The Chamber office is a primary information source for members, visitors and residents. The staff continuously refers customers and clients to members who provide the requested products and services. In addition, the following services are available in the Chamber office to members and qualifying non-members.

Services

• Advertising in Chamber publications
• Certification of export documents
• Grand opening open house materials & planning
• Membership labels and disks
• Promotional materials
• Website member listings
• Census data
• Telephone directories
• Publications
• City map
• Membership directory/buyer’s guide
• Monthly newsletter
• Relocation packets
• Sales tax charts
• Website

Joliet is a thriving suburban city strategically positioned just 40 miles southwest of downtown Chicago. The community has experienced unprecedented growth since the 1990s, nearly doubling in population and adding much in the way of business opportunity, residential amenities and avenues for exciting entertainment and culture.

So much has been happening here over recent years, especially in the Downtown City Center, which has been transformed into an urban hub for entertainment, shopping, dining, working and living. This central district is home to the widely popular Bicentennial Park and many local historical landmarks, including the completely renovated Rialto Square Theatre, the Joliet Public Library and the Joliet Area Historical Museum. With such communitywide attractions including two casinos, three racetracks, a professional independent baseball team and much more, Joliet has developed into a flourishing tourist destination.

The city also offers robust sectors such as industry, logistics, and transportation & distribution centers led by major employers like ExxonMobil Corporation, Amazon and NRG Energy. In addition, residents take pleasure in the community’s outstanding schools and higher learning facilities, two award-winning hospitals, affordable real estate and excellent public services, which all come together to provide a high quality of life that is truly second-to-none in the Chicago area.

Joliet is truly one of America’s best-kept secrets. The people and businesses of Joliet welcome you to experience all that this rich southwestern suburban area has to offer – and, like many of its current residents, you may never want to leave!

Important Phone Numbers

Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry
(815) 727-5371
63 N. Chicago St.

City of Joliet
(815) 724-4000
150 W. Jefferson St.

County of Will
(815) 722-5515
302 N. Chicago St.

Joliet City Center Partnership
(815) 774-6066
116 N. Chicago St., Ste. 101

Joliet Township Office
(815) 726-4781
51 N. Des Plaines St.

Will County Center for Economic Development
(815) 723-1800
116 N. Chicago St., Ste. 101

Heritage Corridor Convention & Visitors Bureau
(815) 216-9960
2701 Black Rd., Ste. 201

Three Rivers Manufacturers’ Association
(815) 727-4609
116 N. Chicago St., Ste. 101

Will County Governmental League
(815) 722-7280
3180 Theodore St., Ste. 101

Joliet Regional Port District
(815) 838-8523
P.O. Box 162, Lockport

Representative Natalie Manley
(815) 725-2741
2701 Black Rd.

Representative Larry Walsh Jr.
(815) 730-8600
121 Springfield Ave.

Senator Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant
(815) 254-4211
15300 Rt. 59, Plainfield

Senator Patrick McGuire
(815) 207-4445
2200 Weber Rd., Crest Hill

Honorable Larry Walsh – Will County Executive
(815) 740-4601
302 N. Chicago St.

U.S. Congressman Bill Foster
(815) 280-5876
195 Springfield Ave., Ste. 102

Greetings from Joliet! The Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry proudly presents the 2018 Lifestyle Magazine. We invite you to use this valuable resource to learn more about the many facets of our region, including history, education, health care, entertainment and recreation.

We also encourage you to keep this book handy to find Chamber-member businesses and organizations who support our community and its Chamber of Commerce. By patronizing their businesses, you are helping to strengthen our region’s business climate.

Established in 1914, our Chamber takes seriously its mission “to advance the interests of business, professional and service organizations in the Joliet Region, acting as their voice in governmental and social affairs, communicating and servicing their needs and thereby enhancing the business environment and the local quality of life.” If you are a Chamber member, you already know and benefit from the many programs and services offered to help businesses succeed.

If your business is not a member of our Chamber, we personally invite you to join the more than 1,200 member businesses that have come together to support each other and to build a better business community. Please refer to the back of this book for specific information on the benefits of membership.

Please feel free to call the Chamber office at (815) 727-5371 so we can be of assistance.

Sincerely,

Mary Jaworski, President • Michael Paone, Vice President
Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry
63 N. Chicago St. • Joliet, IL 60432
Phone: (815) 727-5371 • Fax: (815) 727-5374
www.jolietchamber.com • info@jolietchamber.com

Opened in 1858, just six years after the incorporation of the City of Joliet, the Illinois State Penitentiary, Joliet, now known simply as the “Old Joliet Prison,” has, for better or worse, been synonymous with the City of Joliet for nearly its entire history. The Joliet Prison, with its iconic castellated Gothic architecture, was designed by Chicago’s earliest architect W.W. Boyington, who also designed the Chicago Water Tower. The use of Joliet limestone was a trademark of Boyington’s designs and this locally quarried stone was used to erect structures all around the country. The prison in Joliet replaced the first state penitentiary in Alton, built on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River in 1831. The privately-managed prison quickly degraded into a state of horrendous conditions. Noted reformer Dorothea Dix personally petitioned the Illinois General Assembly to construct a new penitentiary after inspection the Alton prison in 1847.

While action from the state legislature and some construction occurred in prior years, May 22, 1858, marks the “beginning” of the Joliet Prison when 53 inmates arrived at a small structure, which still stands, to begin the work of constructing the larger prison around themselves. This included the quarrying of the limestone from two adjacent quarries.

Upon its opening, the Chicago Tribune declared glowingly, “We came away fully impressed with the belief that the important trusts at Joliet are in good hands, that there is growing a state work, which will be for long years to come the pride of her citizens.” The image of the Joliet Prison, however, quickly changed. By 1878, the prison was filled well over capacity with nearly 2,000 inmates. Reports of unsanitary and dangerous conditions emerged and by 1905, calls for the closure of the “old prison” were made. The 1926 construction of Stateville Penitentiary in what is now Crest Hill was intended to close the prison, but it continued to house offenders until 2002, when it was finally closed by Governor George Ryan.

The prison is probably best known today for its most popular, albeit fictional inmate – “Joliet Jake” Blues from the 1980 film “The Blues Brothers.” Since then, the prison has made a number of appearances in films and in television, including as the character of “Fox River State Penitentiary” in the critically acclaimed Fox series “Prison Break,” and in smaller scenes in “Derailed,” “Let’s Go to Prison” and recently, “Empire.”

Sadly, despite this interest from Hollywood, the prison remained closed, and in addition to damage from the elements, was subject to rampant vandalism, including several acts of arson. Attempts were made to find suitable options for reuse, including tourism, by the Collins Street Task Force of concerned public and private leaders, but these efforts were stalled by the Great Recession of 2008. Continued vandalism and destruction of the site led Joliet Mayor Bob O’Dekirk to personally petition the state government to allow the City of Joliet to take control of the property in December of 2017.

Since then, the city looked to the Joliet Area Historical Museum to take a leadership role in operating tours at the site. In partnership with the city, the museum identified a number of community partners to form a public/private partnership entity, The Old Joliet Prison Preservation Coalition. To date, the project has been met with an enthusiastic response from the community of Joliet, culminating in over 6,500 volunteers hours, $1 million in in-kind labor and donations and nearly $200,000 in funds raised to benefit the site.

True to its historic legacy, the Old Joliet Prison now takes its rightful place as an authentic, unique asset which is inextricably linked the history of the City of Joliet, and will continue to draw interest from visitors all around the world.

Joliet IL Residential Living

Joliet is the third-largest city in Illinois. Its population has nearly doubled over the last 20 years, ballooning from 76,836 in 1990 to 147,433 in 2010.

As Joliet continues to grow, so do its housing options. There is a home for everyone here – from luxurious estates to modest single-family homes and modern townhouses. Historic preservation work has resulted in many beautifully maintained homes from the city’s earliest days, while newer construction reflects Joliet’s dedication to the future. Downtown revitalization has also added to the local real estate market with the opening of apartment and condominium complexes in renovated structures, such as the historic Auditorium building and the former Louis Joliet Hotel.

The price of homeownership is just as appealing, with many families and individuals relocating to this southwest suburban area due to its affordable real estate and overall lower cost of living. Homes in Joliet start as low as $130,000 and go all the way up to the million-dollar range. Reasonable rental options are also available throughout the city, as are several excellent retirement homes for seniors looking for a low- to no-maintenance lifestyle.

The city’s safe, affordable, family-oriented neighborhoods – close to shopping, recreation, schools and a thriving business district – continue to bring in new residents who desire the perfect environment to raise a family and enjoy life at its best.

The Joliet Park District celebrates 97 years in 2019! With 78 community parks, 15 award winning facilities and over 1650 acres, the mission of the Joliet Park District is to provide quality recreational programming and events that promote healthy, active lifestyles to enhance the quality of life for our entire community.

Joliet Park District operated facilities stretch throughout Joliet, and include three golf courses (Inwood, Wedgewood and Woodruff), Splash Station waterpark, Bird Haven Greenhouse, ATI Field at Joliet Memorial Stadium, Joliet Regional Airport, Inwood Athletic Club, Kathy Green Multi-Purpose Center, Barber and Oberwortmann Horticultural Center, Hartman Recreation Center, Harlow Lockwood Softball Fields, and the brand new Nowell Park Recreation Center.

The Nowell Park Recreation Center opened in fall 2018.  This amazing facility features a 10,000 square foot fitness center, indoor walking track, multi-purpose rooms, and basketball/volleyball/pickleball courts.

The Joliet Park District is also proud to host the Taste of Joliet, a three-day festival featuring 20+ food vendors, carnival, kids zone and live music.  With crowds over 55,000 and past headliners like Sammy Hagar, Hunter Hayes, REO Speedwagon, STYX, Little Big Town, Zendaya, Brett Eldredge and Billy Currington, the Taste of Joliet is the highlight of the summer in Joliet.  For more information on the Taste of Joliet, visit www.tasteofjoliet.com.

The Joliet Park District hosts a number of free community events throughout the year:  Airport Fest, Movies in the Park, Donate Your Weight, Concerts in the Park, Nowell Park Back to School Fest, and Easter Egg Hunts are just a few.

For more information on the Joliet Park District’s lineup of facilities, programs and events, visit www.jolietpark.org, follow the Joliet Park District on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or call (815)741.7275.