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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...
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