Farmers Weekly Review

Gov. JB Pritzker joined Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, local officials, and business leaders July 21 to celebrate the official opening of Lion Electric’s newest electric vehicle manufacturing facility in Joliet.

The 900,000-square-foot facility is the largest all-electric U.S. plant dedicated to medium and heavy-duty commercial vehicle production and builds on Governor Pritzker’s years of investment in EV manufacturing and production across the state, according to a press release from the governor’s office.

“My administration has made investing in the EV sector a priority, because we know that the future of Illinois relies on dependable clean energy jobs as we transition to a carbon-free future,” said Pritzker.

“Companies like Lion have recognized the many resources Illinois provides, including our uniquely talented workforce, and together we have set the state on a path to thousands more jobs and increased EV capacity.”

“Lion Electric is an extraordinary partner and represents more than the new jobs and investment they are bringing to Will County and to Illinois,” said Doug Pryor, President and CEO of the Will County Center for Economic Development.

“As a leading OEM manufacturer of all-electric buses and trucks, Lion represents an important step forward, continuing Joliet and Chicagoland’s proud manufacturing tradition by supporting a growing EV and clean energy cluster.”

“Lion Electric has been a proactive partner in building new programs and pipelines from the college to the Lion facility to support their workforce needs,” said Joliet Junior College President Dr. Clyne Namuo.

“Through a new model, our students have the flexibility take classes in the JJC automotive program and then go to work at this facility as entry level assemblers and end of the line technicians. Of course, this is just the beginning of what we can do together. As the nation’s first community college, we will join Lion, Governor Pritzker, and the State of Illinois to drive innovation and growth in the state’s green economy.”

“Thank you to Lion Electric for your strong investment in Will County and Joliet,” said Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant. “This facility brings hundreds of high-quality jobs to our community and helps solidify Will County’s role as a national clean energy leader.”

Joliet Mayor Terry D’Arcy thanked the leadership of Lion Electric for choosing Joliet to build their new facility.”

“As someone who understands transportation and automotive needs, I truly appreciate the technology Lion is instituting to improve the environment and the future for all of us,” said D’Arcy, who owns automotive dealerships in the area. “This Joliet facility will bring roughly 1,400 jobs in the future to Joliet and Will County.”