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TO: Mayor John Laesch
FROM: Chris Ragona, Director of Community Services
DATE: January 28, 2026
SUBJECT:
A Resolution Approving Four Grants Funded by the 2026 Opioid Use Disorder grant opportunity in the Amount of $203,000.
PURPOSE:
To approve the 2026 Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) Grants by resolution. This approval is necessary in order to award and process 2026 grants.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Aurora (City) is entering the second year of its OUD Grant Program, funded via its Illinois Opioid Allocation Agreement. 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. 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 September 9, 2025, and closed on October 10, 2025. For 2026, the total OUD funding available is $461,797. 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 |
8-26-2025 |
|
Beacon Newspaper Advertisement |
8-17-2025 |
|
Community Resource Team Email |
8-29-2025 |
|
Community Resource Team Social Media Post |
8-29-2025 |
|
Pre-Application Announcement Email - Notice #2 |
8-29-2025 |
|
Final Reminder Regarding Application Due Date |
10-06-2025 |
|
Application Due Date |
10-10-2025 |
Under each email notification, an estimated 560 representatives from non-profit agencies, elected officials, advisory boards, interested businesses, and residents of the City were provided with information regarding the City’s grant opportunities. The City also contacted other area grant providers via email to share the City’s grant opportunities and published an advertisement and press release in The Beacon News. An estimated 120 attendees participated in the non-mandatory pre-application virtual workshop. The workshop was recorded and posted on the City’s website along with the workshop’s presentation slides.
The 2026 OUD Grant funding round closed on October 10, 2025, with four (4) applicants requesting a total amount of $340,581.
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 funding proposal quality.
For 2026, three OUD awards in the amount of $203,000 have been recommended for the following three (3) agencies: Kane County Collaborative ($85,000), Family Guidance Centers ($56,000), and East Aurora School District ($62,000), Services include activities related to opioid diversion, treatment, outreach, education, and other activities.
Summaries of all applications, including requested and recommended funding, are attached as EXHIBIT A & EXHIBIT B.
DISCUSSION:
The OUD Grant program will require significant reporting and compliance documents to be submitted by each of the recipients similar to Community Development Block Grant program requirements.
Account numbers where OUD funds have been requested for the 2026 budget are as follows:
Account: 101-1330-463.50-66 (Expenses) and Account: 101-1330-341.10-99 (Revenue).
IMPACT STATEMENT:
The 2026 OUD Grants will fund four 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 2026 Opioid Use Disorder Grants in the amount of $203,000.
cc: Public Health, Safety and Transportation Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
A Resolution A Resolution Approving the 2026 Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) Grants in the Amount of $203,000.
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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, 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 2026 OUD applications and made recommendations for funding for 2026, and
WHEREAS, funds are requested in the 2026 budget in the following accounts: 101-1330-463.50-66 (Expenses) and 101-1330-341.10-99 (Revenue).)
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 2026 budget, the 2026 OUD Grants are approved and incorporated as part of the 2026 City of Aurora Annual Budget.