Comprehensive Economic Overview: Grundy County

Abstract

This comprehensive report provides an overview of the economic performance of Grundy County. Grundy County is located within the southwestern portion of the Chicago Metropolitan Statistical Area. The goal of this report is to provide a comprehensive overview of the Grundy County community through its economic performance indicators, an industry and workforce analysis, population analysis, and real estate overview, to inform future planning for the diversification and resiliency of the local economy. A key county energy asset is the nuclear Dresden Generating Station. The plant is the largest property tax payer and supports numerous jobs in the county, as further identified in this report. Recent shifts have increased support and funding for nuclear generation plants, however, the threat of a closure led to the need to further examine the economic vitality of Grundy County. The research team evaluated both national and local indicators from a variety of sources.