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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 STATEM...
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