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TO: Mayor John Laesch
FROM: Alessandro Minnella, Senior Planner
Josh Ream, Director of Development Services
DATE: September 23, 2026
SUBJECT:
Requesting approval to accept and execute a Great Lakes Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program award from the Minneapolis Foundation for brownfield cleanup and remediation services at 13 S. Broadway, 15-17 S. Broadway, and 61-65 E. Downer Pl., Aurora, Illinois 60505.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this request is to authorize the City to accept and execute a grant agreement with the Minneapolis Foundation through the Great Lakes Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program for $350,000 in grant funding for environmental cleanup and remediation services at City-owned/City-controlled brownfield properties located at 13 S. Broadway, 15-17 S. Broadway, and 61-65 E. Downer Pl.
The grant will support site investigation, remediation, Illinois EPA regulatory-closure documentation, and pursuit of No Further Remediation determinations. By addressing potential environmental contamination, the project will position the properties for safe reuse, future redevelopment, and private investment.
The Minneapolis Foundation administers the Great Lakes Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program with funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The program supports environmental-justice and community-focused projects in EPA Region 5, including Illinois, with implementation grants of up to $350,000.)
BACKGROUND:
The City applied for and was awarded a Great Lakes Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program grant to support cleanup and remediation of targeted brownfield properties in Downtown Aurora. The project period is October 1, 2026, through July 31, 2027.
The grant was originally structured as a two-year award. Due to federal pauses affecting certain grant programs, implementation was delayed. The City has now received notice that the grant may proceed; however, the available implementation period has been reduced to approximately 10 months. City staff have worked to promptly revise the project scope, required documentation, and procurement approach to align with the shortened timeframe. Timely approval is important, because the City must complete grant-funded activities, required reporting, and applicable regulatory submittals within the revised project period.
The properties are located in Downtown Aurora Census Tract 17089854700, an underserved community. They include 13 S. Broadway; 15-17 S. Broadway; and 61-65 E. Downer Pl., Aurora, Illinois 60505. A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment and asbestos/hazardous-material surveys have been completed for the properties. The proposed grant-funded work will begin with further site investigation and environmental sampling to identify and characterize contaminants of concern and develop site-specific remediation plans.
The City will procure a qualified environmental services contractor through its competitive procurement process. The selected contractor will perform the technical work necessary to support Illinois EPA SRP participation and NFR request materials, including sampling and laboratory analysis, remediation planning and implementation, in-situ injection activities where appropriate, abatement oversight, waste removal documentation, confirmatory sampling, and regulatory reporting.
DISCUSSION:
Development Services oversees Property Standards and is responsible for advancing City-owned or City-controlled properties toward safe, productive reuse and future economic development.
The City will competitively procure an environmental services contractor through an RFP process. Staff will work with the Illinois EPA and the grant funder to ensure that the selected contractor is qualified and that the project complies with all applicable grant, procurement, SRP, and environmental requirements. The contractor will perform the technical work necessary to support cleanup activities and preparation of SRP and NFR request materials.
The $350,000 grant award will be received in account 101-1827-331.15-10 and expenditures will be made from account 101-1827-424.50-50. No matching funds are required.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
This project will benefit the community by reducing potential environmental hazards at underutilized brownfield properties in Downtown Aurora and preparing the sites for safe reuse, redevelopment, and future economic investment. City staff impacts will be limited to grant administration, procurement, contract oversight, and project coordination.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Staff recommends that the City Council approve and pass the proposed resolution accepting the $350,000 Great Lakes Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program award from the Minneapolis Foundation and authorizing the City to proceed with the related grant-funded brownfields cleanup and remediation activities.
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
A Resolution authorizing acceptance of a $350,000 Great Lakes Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program award from the Minneapolis Foundation for brownfields cleanup and remediation activities.
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 applied to the Minneapolis Foundation’s Great Lakes Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program requesting grant funds for brownfields cleanup and remediation activities; and
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora received notification on September 18, 2026 that it was awarded a grant in the amount of $350,000 through the Minneapolis Foundation’s Great Lakes Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program for the period of October 1, 2026, through July 31, 2027; and
WHEREAS, a budget amendment will be submitted to increase revenue in account 101-1827-331.15-10 and increase expenses in account 101-1827-424.50-50
for grant-funded brownfields cleanup and remediation activities.)
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: City Council and the City of Aurora, Illinois, finds as facts all of the preamble recitals of this Resolution and hereby approves a resolution to accept a Minneapolis Foundation Great Lakes Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program grant in the amount of $350,000 for the City of Aurora Brownfield Revitalization Project.