Grundy Reporter

Joliet Junior College (JJC) is focused on expanding its presence in Grundy County to tap into the young students and professional offerings and continue growing their educated workforce.

According to a press release, on May 10, Joliet Junior College presented a plan to expand its offerings and presence in Grundy County to the Board of Trustees. An exploratory committee was formed and spoke at length about “the growth taking place in Grundy County and the potential JJC has to meet education and workforce demands.”

On June 7, JJC announced that they were “westward bound” in a tweet saying, “We've formed a 10-person committee to explore expanding our presence in Grundy County to better serve our district and meet workforce and education demand.”

"The time is right to expand the Joliet Junior College footprint, furthering its impact and strengthening our future workforce," Morris Mayor Chris Brown wrote in a post on LinkedIn. "The City of Morris, Illinois is proud to take a lead in this effort."

According to university's website, JJC held their first classes in the region in 1901, serving only six students. The institution went on to become the first recognized public community college in the nation, serving approximately 27,000 students each year, boasting six total campuses and education centers. The college offers nine career and education pathways, including Agricultural Sciences & Veterinary Technology, Architecture, Manufacturing & Automotive, Business, Finance & Information Technology, Culinary, Hospitality & Tourism, Health, Public Safety & Human Services, Liberal & Fine Arts, Social & Behavioral Sciences, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and Workforce & Training.

“This is an exciting moment in the history of JJC and the students on the western side of our district,” said JJC President Dr. Clyne Namuo, according to the press release. “I have been out and about quite a bit since I started at JJC, and it became very clear to me early on that how we are serving the western edge of our district in the city of Morris and surrounding communities within Grundy County did not align with all of the activity taking place there.”

JJC wants to help continue and capitalize on the impressive growth and industry numbers Grundy County has shown. According to the press release, the county is experiencing a population boom, offers a higher than average median household income throughout the area, and has experienced an over 10% increase in available jobs. The county boasts an advantageous location, easy access to an available workforce and is very strong in engaging with growing businesses and labor markets.