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TO: Mayor John Laesch
FROM: Jason Bauer, Director of Public Works
DATE: October 16th, 2026
SUBJECT:
A resolution to accept a Powering the Holidays grant in the amount of $2,500 from ComEd, administered by the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, for the City of Aurora’s 2026 Winter Lights Festival.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this item is to obtain authorization for the City of Aurora to accept a $2,500 Powering the Holidays grant from ComEd, administered by the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, to purchase LED lights for the City’s 2026 Winter Lights Festival and increase the applicable revenue and expense budgets by $2,500 each.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Aurora submitted an application to the 2026 Powering the Holidays grant program to support the City’s 2026 Winter Lights Festival. On October 13, 2026, the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus notified the City that its proposal had been selected for a $2,500 grant award. ComEd provides the grant funding, and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus administers the program. The award includes a $2,500 local matching commitment in addition to the $2,500 grant, bringing the combined grant and matching expenditures to $5,000. The City will fulfill its matching commitment through other eligible holiday purchases already included in the City’s budget.
DISCUSSION:
The $2,500 grant will be used to purchase LED lights for the City’s 2026 Winter Lights Festival. The City will provide a separate $2,500 cash match through other eligible, already-budgeted holiday purchases, bringing combined grant and matching expenditures to $5,000.
The seasonal nature of the grant program and the timing of the award announcement require a quick turnaround for approval of the grant agreement.
A budget amendment will be submitted to increase revenue and expenses by $2,500 each. No additional budget increase is required for the City’s matching contribution.
The revenue account will be 101-4030-337.30-40. The expense account will be 101-4030-418.50-99.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
Acceptance of the grant will provide $2,500 in external funding to purchase LED lights for the City’s 2026 Winter Lights Festival. Without this funding, the City would need to use existing resources or reduce the planned LED light purchases. The City’s $2,500 cash match will be met through other eligible holiday purchases already budgeted, requiring no additional funding for the match.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Request approval to accept the grant award of $2,500 for the purchase of new LED lights for the 2026 Winter Lights festival.
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
A Resolution to accept a Powering the Holidays grant in the amount of $2,500 from ComEd, administered by the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, for the City of Aurora’s 2026 Winter Lights Festival and authorize related budget amendments.
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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 has been awarded a $2,500 Powering the Holidays grant from ComEd, administered by the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, to purchase LED lights for the City’s 2026 Winter Lights Festival; and
WHEREAS, the City will provide a separate $2,500 cash match through other eligible holiday purchases already included in the City’s budget, bringing combined grant and matching expenditures to $5,000; and
WHEREAS, a budget amendment will be submitted to increase the revenue budget in account 101-4030-337.30-40 and the expense budget in account 101-4030-418.50-99 by $2,500 each, with no additional budget increase required for the City’s matching contribution.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: The City Council finds as facts all of the preamble recitals of this Resolution and hereby approves acceptance of the $2,500 Powering the Holidays grant from ComEd, administered by the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, for the City’s 2026 Winter Lights Festival.