Terry D'Arcy's Joliet: These 8 PowerPoint Slides Are Everything You Need To Know About His City's State

JOLIET, IL — Terry D'Arcy is feeling great about the direction of Joliet as he finishes up his first four-year term of office. At Thursday's once a year state of the city speech, D'Arcy provided several visual images and graphic illustrations showing his captivated audience that Joliet is vibrant, lively and accomplishing a lot of great things during 2026.

Some of the themes included in his PowerPoint presentation boldly proclaimed, "A Year Of Progress, Preparedness And Partnership," and "Economic Development Unprecedented."

"Today, as we gather for the 2026 State of the City Address, I want to share a story. Not just a list of achievements, but a story about Joliet. A story about a city rising with purpose, strengthened by the work of our departments, energized by our residents, and guided by a vision of what Joliet can become. This past year has shown us what’s possible when preparation meets partnership, when innovation meets investment, when community meets opportunity, and when Joliet keeps moving forward."

D'Arcy also made it a point to offer his praise of Beth Beatty who is wrapping up the end of her third full year as the city of Joliet manager after working for the city of Chicago most of her adult life. "I can’t go any further without also thanking City Manager Beth Beatty. We are so fortunate to have someone who understands the business of running a city, and the leadership she has brought in to help with that business has been invaluable in keeping Joliet moving forward."

Crime Continues To Drop In Joliet

According to Mayor's talk, the Joliet Police Department has modernized their operations and increased their community engagement, leading to a safer community.

"Don't just take it from me, look at how JPD has brought meaningful, measurable progress to the city. Shootings are down 21 percent compared to the previous year. Shootings are down 34 percent compared to the five-year average. Shootings are down in the first six months of 2026. And overall, crime is trending down over the past 4 years. These numbers signal a city growing stronger, neighborhoods gaining confidence, more local leaders having a seat at the table, and more young people experiencing stability in the places they call home," D'Arcy declared.

A big portion of D'Arcy's presentation centered on all the economic development taking place around Joliet.

"Joliet’s economic momentum is undeniable, and it’s being strengthened by thoughtful planning that looks far beyond the next budget cycle," D'Arcy announced. "Joliet’s economic momentum continues to accelerate – and one of the biggest drivers of that growth is Rock Run Collection ... Construction is already underway on the development’s anchor, Dick’s House of Sport, which will bring interactive athletic experiences and help draw in additional national retailers ... Rock Run Collection is also expected to generate thousands of jobs, making it a major driver of Joliet’s long-term economic growth. Upon its completion, this will be a $1.3 billion dollar endeavor."

Elsewhere, the mayor noted, "one of the biggest filled vacancies is the former Lion Electric building, soon to be home to Hyundai Translead. When it opens, it will be the third-largest manufacturer in Illinois, right here in Joliet, bringing an expected 2,400 jobs to our local economy. That’s a transformational milestone for our workforce and our region. And with retail vacancy rates among the lowest in the area, the confidence businesses have in Joliet continues to grow."

What can Joliet residents expect over the next year?

D'Arcy highlighted the following projects will come to fruition:

▪ Continued progress on the Rock Run Collection development

▪ Redevelopment of the Barrett’s building

▪ A new Tourism Strategic Plan

▪ And other soon-to-be-announced projects totaling more than $1 billion

"We are not just attracting business – we are becoming a destination where we are having conversations with some of the biggest developers in the region, attracting stronger entertainment options, and continuing to grow our tax base and reduce the impact on residents," D'Arcy emphasized in his State of the City message.