Kankakee Times

Kankakee Chamber of Commerce Inc. issued the following announcement on Jan. 20

ComEd is now accepting applications for its latest round of Powering Communities competitive grants to help protect the environment, enhance public  safety, and increase access to the arts across northern Illinois. Municipal agencies and  community organizations that operate in the ComEd service territory are encouraged to apply for a total of more than $500,000 in available funding. Qualifying proposals will be eligible for  grants of up to $10,000 each, available through three programs to support communities. 

Interested parties are encouraged to visit ComEd.com/Grants for more information, including  how to apply for funding. Applications will be accepted now through 5 p.m. CST on March 25,  2022. 

"ComEd is proud to partner with our communities by making needed investments that enhance  the quality of life for the families and businesses we’re privileged to serve," said Melissa  Washington, senior vice president of customer operations at ComEd. “From funding  pollinators and green space projects, to public electric vehicle chargers to arts programming for  youth and seniors, we continue to seed local investments to help lift up communities and meet  the challenges of today’s ever-evolving climate and economy.” 

The three annual grants programs -- Green Region, Powering Safe Communities, and Powering  the Arts -- are administered in partnership with Openlands, the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and  the League of Chicago Theatres, respectively.  

Green Region grants support non-profits, educational and public agencies in their efforts to  plan for, protect and improve open space. These grants support open-space projects that focus on  planning, acquisition and improvements to local parks, natural areas and recreation resources. A  summary of 2021 Green Region grant recipients can be found here. 

Powering Safe Communities grants support municipal and public safety initiatives. This year,  grants have a special focus on electrification projects that reduce carbon emissions, improve  public health outcomes and advance community resiliency. A summary of 2021 Powering Safe  Communities grant recipients can be found here. 

Powering the Arts grants recognize that increased access to the arts enhances the vibrancy of  local communities. These grants support arts and culture organizations in their efforts to reach 

new and diverse audiences. A summary of 2021 Powering the Arts grant recipients can be found  here. 

“It is vitally important that we invest in nature-based solutions that help mitigate the most severe  effects of climate change. From restoring our land to protecting biodiversity, especially of  pollinators, we must all do our part to ensure the region's climate resiliency,” said Jerry  Adelmann, president and CEO of Openlands. “That is why we are proud to partner with  ComEd for the tenth year of the ComEd Green Region Grant, providing the resources necessary  to ensure healthy and vibrant communities in Northern Illinois." 

"We are proud to announce we are partnering with ComEd to administer the Powering Safe  Communities program. This program has dramatically helped communities meet their safety and  sustainability goals,” said David Bennett, executive director of the Metropolitan Mayors  Caucus. “We look forward to serving our communities again through the program this year and  invite communities to apply."  

“The League of Chicago Theatre is proud to team up with ComEd for our fifth consecutive year  of Powering the Arts to increase access, engagement and enjoyment of the arts,” said Deb  Clapp, executive director of the League of Chicago Theatres. “We are committed to making  the arts more equitable and available to all audiences by delivering programs that will enhance  the health of our communities. With the support of ComEd and others in the region, we are  focused on making theatre more accessible to all, and providing much-needed support for arts  organizations across our communities as they recover from the devastating impact of the  pandemic.” 

Since 2013, ComEd competitive grant programs have made investments in communities to  improve their infrastructure and quality of life. Collectively, these programs have delivered nearly $3 million in funding to support hundreds of projects, including those to expand arts  programing, to improve green infrastructure, like parks, and to expand clean transportation in  

communities across northern Illinois. 

The annual grants programs are one part of ComEd’s comprehensive investment in the  communities it serves. In 2021 alone, ComEd employees volunteered more than 12,200 hours and raised $2 million to support communities and causes close to their hearts. 

For more information on each grant program, including eligibility guidelines and how to apply,  visit ComEd.com/Grants. 

Original source can be found here.