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TO: Mayor John Laesch
FROM: Alison Lindburg, Director of Sustainability
DATE: November 17, 2025
SUBJECT:
Requesting authorization of acceptance of a grant award of $22,000.00 from the Metropolitan Mayor's Caucus to provide education about energy efficiency; agreement must be signed no later than December 15, 2025. Some funding must be spent in 2025.
PURPOSE:
To obtain approval for the City to receive $22,000.00 in Low-Income Energy Efficiency Outreach and Education funding from the Metropolitan Mayor's Caucus to provide education and outreach about energy efficiency to low-income residents in Aurora.
BACKGROUND:
The City applied for and was awarded $22,000.00 from the Metropolitan Mayor's Caucus to provide education and outreach about energy efficiency to low-income residents in Aurora through an initiative called "Empower Aurora: Energy Efficiency Engagement for All". Grant agreement language was reviewed and approved with the Legal department on 11/20/2025. The grant agreement will run through December 31, 2026.
DISCUSSION:
The City of Aurora is committed to supporting our most energy-burdened households through education, outreach, and connection to available utility-supported programs. Aurora’s project, “Empower Aurora: Energy Efficiency Engagement for All,” will directly reach low-income residents through community events, door-to-door engagement, and targeted digital outreach. This initiative will increase awareness of cost-saving opportunities through ComEd’s and partner programs, while promoting energy-efficient practices that improve household comfort and reduce utility costs.
The Sustainability Division is uniquely positioned to deliver this program through its partnerships with neighborhood groups, housing service providers, and community-based organizations serving income-qualified residents. The proposed program aligns with the 2019 Aurora Sustainability Plan and advances equitable participation in clean energy benefits.
This funding supports other major priorities for this Division, including:
-securing funding for staff;
-providing Sustainability education to Aurora residents;
-obtaining funding for GreenFest; and
-promoting programs and incentives that support affordable energy-efficient housing.
The grant agreement identifies that some outside contractors may be hired to fulfill the grant deliverables. If outside contractors are used, the City of Aurora procurement policy will be followed.
As mentioned in the resolution we are requesting that the Mayor, City Clerk, and Department of Sustainability have the ability to execute these documents if they are required to carry the purposes of this resolution into execution, without any additional City Council action.
The account numbers for this grant award are the following:
Revenue:
101-1830-337-30-00 GRANTS-LOCAL GOVERNMENT / GRANTS-LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Expense:
101-1830-465-10-01 SALARIES / FULL-TIME/REGULAR
101-1830-465-45-18 OTHER SERVICES & CHARGES / PROMO MATERIALS/SERVICES
101-1830-465-45-99 OTHER SERVICES & CHARGES / OTHER
IMPACT STATEMENT:
This funding will impact the Sustainability division by providing funding to cover some staff time. It will benefit the community by offering education on how to improve the energy-efficiency of their homes, helping lower their utility bills.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Recommend to approve a Resolution authorizing the City to accept a grant award of $22,000.00 from the Metropolitan Mayor's Caucus. Staff also requests authorization for the City's Mayor, City Clerk, Director of Sustainability, or their designees to execute any contracts as well as any other documents associated with this grant.
cc: Finance Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
A Resolution authorizing the City to accept a grant award from the Metropolitan Mayor's Caucus of $22,000.00 to support energy efficiency outreach and education.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Aurora Code Section Chapter 2, Division 2, Section 2-336, the City has authority to enter into agreements and accept grant funding; and
WHEREAS, improved energy efficiency in buildings would help the City of Aurora meet the goals of the Aurora 2019 Sustainability Plan; and
WHEREAS, the $22,000.00 in funding from the Metropolitan Mayor's Caucus would support outreach and education on energy-efficiency to Aurora residents; and
WHEREAS, the account numbers for this grant award are the following: Revenue:
101-1830-337-30-00 Grant-Local Government, Expense: 101-1830-465-10-01 Salaries,
101-1830-465-45-18 Other Services & Charges/Promo Materials, and 101-1830-465-45-99 Other Services & Charges/Other.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: the City authorizes the acceptance of the Low-Income Energy Efficiency Outreach and Education grant funding in the amount of $22,000.00 from the Metropolitan Mayor's Caucus, and approves authorization for the City's Mayor, City Clerk, Director of Sustainability, or their designees to execute any contracts as well as any other documents associated with this grant.