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Will County economic-development official outlines Hyundai Translead plan, seeks five‑year tax abatement
Summary
Doug Prior of the Will County Center for Economic Development told the Minooka CHSD 111 board that Hyundai Translead plans to redevelop two former industrial sites into about 2.4 million square feet of manufacturing space and estimated roughly 2,500 jobs; the company requested a five‑year property‑tax abatement at 50% of new increment during the abatement period.
Doug Prior, CEO of the Will County Center for Economic Development, told the Minooka Community High School District 111 board that a manufacturing proposal known as Project Northwinds — introduced by Hyundai Translead — would put two former factory buildings back into production and could create roughly 2,500 jobs across the two sites.
"This project would represent roughly 2.4 million square feet of former manufacturing space in this region being put back into manufacturing use," Prior said, and he described the ask as a property‑tax abatement for five years at 50% of the new increment generated by the investment.
The proposal covers the former Line Electric facility at 3835 Young's Road and the old Caterpillar building at 2200 Shanahan Road. Prior said the companies have worked with education partners, and Joliet/"JJC" representatives were at the table to develop manufacturing training programs intended to feed the project’s workforce pipeline.
Board members asked procedural and impact questions: a board member asked when the abatement clock would start and whether the district would continue to receive the current equalized assessed value (EAV) until new valuations take effect. Prior responded that the five‑year abatement would typically be targeted after the building is fully assessed and that the current EAV would continue to be paid until the new valuation comes online.
Officials also asked about truck traffic. Prior said the facility will have inbound shipments and pickup of finished goods, but he did not anticipate traffic markedly greater than what had been projected for prior industrial users of the sites; he said the use is expected to generate less traffic than a typical warehouse because manufacturing involves inbound raw materials and less frequent outbound shipments.
Prior noted a tentative construction timetable targeting work in 2027 and said local education partners — including JJC — are preparing workforce training programs. He said Will County and other local bodies had already reviewed the proposal and that some partners are expected to take final votes on the abatement the day after the board meeting.
The board later voted to approve the Hyundai Translead abatement agreement; the roll call recorded a single 'no' vote from Mr. Koy and affirmative votes from the other board members present.
What happens next: the abatement agreement moves forward after the board’s approval; county and higher‑level taxing bodies will finalize their decisions and construction timing depends on the project’s assessments and permitting.
