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TO: Mayor John Laesch
FROM: Chris Ragona, Director of Community Services, Community Services Department
DATE: July 2, 2025
SUBJECT:
A Resolution Approving Six Grants Funded by the 2025 Opioid Use Disorder Grant Opportunity in the Amount of $344,000.
PURPOSE:
On behalf of the Block Grant Working Committee (BGWC), Staff requests approval of the 2025 Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) Grants by resolution. This approval is necessary in order to award and process 2025 grants.
BACKGROUND:
2025 is the first year in which the OUD Grant Program will operate in the City of Aurora. The program was developed through the Illinois Opioid Allocation Agreement, utilizing funds received by the State as a result of litigation pursued by the Illinois Attorney General. City staff from the Mayor’s Office, Aurora Police Department, Aurora Fire Department, Finance Department, and Community Development Division met several times to discuss the highest and best use of the grant funds. A determination was made to offer these funds to qualified non profits through a competitive grant application with additional discussions to take place at a later date to discuss how to best utilize remaining funds.
Eligible OUD activities include services under the following twelve categories: treat opioid use disorder; support people in treatment and recovery; connect people who need help to the help they need; address the needs of criminal justice-involved persons; address the needs of pregnant or parenting women and their families, including babies with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome; prevent over-prescribing and ensure appropriate prescribing and dispensing of opioids; prevent misuse of opioids; prevent overdose deaths and other harms; first responders; leadership, planning, and coordination; training; and research.
The OUD grant application process opened on March 3, 2025, and closed on March 28, 2025. For 2025, the total OUD funding available is $805,797. City staff outreach efforts included notifications to prospective applicants. The following table outlines the City's outreach efforts:
|
Outreach Opportunity |
Date |
|
Pre-Application Announcement Email - Notice #1 |
3-3-2025 |
|
Beacon Newspaper Advertisement |
3-6-2025 |
|
Community Resource Team Email |
3-6-2025 |
|
Community Resource Team Social Media Post |
3-6-2025 |
|
Pre-Application Announcement Email - Notice #2 |
3-18-2025 |
|
Final Reminder Regarding Application Due Date |
3-26-2025 |
|
Application Due Date |
3-28-2025 |
Under each email notification, an estimated 540 representatives from non-profit agencies, elected officials, advisory boards, interested businesses, and residents of the City were provided with information regarding the City's five specialized grant opportunities: the City’s OUD grant, a Request for Qualification for a HUD-Certified Housing Counselor, Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDO) Housing Activities, a Tenant Placement Assistance (TPA) Program, and a Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) Program. The City also published an advertisement and press release in The Beacon News. The OUD Grant and other specialized grant opportunities were also advertised utilizing the City's social media accounts.
The 2025 OUD Grant funding round closed on March 28, 2025, with six applicants requesting a total of $520,584.
Prior to the grant deadline, mandatory pre-application meetings were conducted to confirm the prospective applicant’s funding eligibility as described in their proposed activity’s service areas and outcomes. Community Development Division (CDD) staff reviewed and scored each application to focus on the following criteria:
-Experience administering opioid related programs.
-Completeness and quality of the application.
-Budget including sources and uses.
-Past performance.
-Ability to operate or carry on a project with a reduced amount of funds.
-Performance metrics.
-Duplication of services.
-Pre-existence of services.
-Ability to serve Aurora residents.
CDD Staff also completed good standing checks with the City’s Division of Revenue and Collections, State of Illinois, Internal Revenue Service, and federal debarment registry to confirm each applicant’s funding eligibility. After reviewing each application, City staff organized projects by the requested amount, funding availability, and the quality of the funding proposal. For 2025, the OUD Grant program’s six applications are all recommended for funding. A summary of each application received, the funding requested, and funding recommendations have been attached (Exhibit A). Funding recommendations were awarded based upon eligible activity expenses. Depending upon the City's future OUD funding allocation plans, it is expected that a second call for applications may be requested during the next application cycle.
DISCUSSION:
The OUD Grant program will require an agreement between the City and subgrantee (Exhibit B) together with significant reporting and compliance documents to be submitted by each of the recipients similar to the requirement of grants funded by the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. As a reimbursement-based grant, grantees will be expected to provide supporting documentation for each payment request. City staff will also utilize a new reporting system that better tracks outcomes, which can then be compared to other program outcomes from across the country. In addition to performance outcome metrics, the submittal of success stories will be prioritized and required to demonstrate the positive impacts of each program. The reports will further enhance accountability and transparency in funding utilization, enabling the City to assess its accomplishments and unmet needs, while guiding future funding priorities.
A 2025 budget amendment will be completed to add the revenue of these funds to: 101-1330-341.10-99 and the expenses to: 101-1330-463.50-66: $344,000.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
The 2025 OUD Grants will fund six activities. These allocations will support agencies that provide services within the twelve approved categories which target opioid treatment, prevention, and other evidence-based or evidence-informed abatement strategies.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Staff recommends adoption of this Resolution authorizing the funding of the 2025 Opioid Use Disorder Grants in the amount of $344,000.
cc: Public Health, Safety and Transportation Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
A Resolution Approving the 2025 Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) Grants in the Amount of $344,000.
body
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, the City of Aurora's OUD Grant program will support local non-profits, and
WHEREAS, the OUD Grant program will help serve hundreds of city residents, and
WHEREAS, the financial support of local partners is critical to continue to provide a wide range of OUD programs and services, and
WHERAS, the Block Grant Working Committee has reviewed the 2025 OUD applications and made recommendations for funding for 2025, and
WHEREAS, A 2025 budget amendment will be completed to add the revenue of these funds to: 101-1330-341.10-99 and the expenses to: 101-1330-463.50-66: $344,000.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: subject to the approval of this item in the 2025 budget, the 2025 OUD Grants are approved and incorporated as part of the 2025 City of Aurora Annual Budget