ComEd and Mayors Caucus Award More Than $170,000 for Clean Energy and Public Safety Projects
ComEd and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus have announced that 24 local governments, public agencies and nonprofit organizations across Illinois will receive more than $170,000 in grants through the 2026 Powering Safe Communities Program. Now in its 12th year, the initiative provides financial support for projects designed to strengthen public safety, improve community resilience and expand the use of clean energy solutions across northern Illinois.
The annual grant program is intended to help communities address practical needs while investing in projects that can deliver lasting benefits for residents. Funding is supporting a diverse collection of initiatives, ranging from emergency response equipment and automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to solar-powered safety infrastructure, electric vehicle charging stations and public safety technology.
Melissa Washington, senior vice president of government, regulatory and external affairs at ComEd, said the continued success of the program demonstrates the importance of collaboration between ComEd, local governments and community organizations.
According to Washington, the partnership with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus reflects a shared commitment to creating safer and more resilient communities while supporting local projects that prepare municipalities for future needs.
The 2026 recipients add to a growing network of communities that have benefited from Powering Safe Communities since the program was established in 2015. Over the past 12 years, the initiative has distributed more than $2 million in grants and helped fund more than 260 public safety and clean energy projects throughout the region.
The program is administered through a partnership between ComEd and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, an organization representing chief elected officials from communities throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. Applications are evaluated by an independent panel of judges, helping provide an outside perspective and promote transparency in the selection process.
Applicants must also demonstrate a financial commitment to their projects. Each grant recipient is required to match the grant award with an equal or greater investment, allowing the program’s funding to leverage additional local resources and expand the overall impact of each initiative.
Neil James, executive director of the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, said the partnership continues to deliver tangible benefits for participating communities. He emphasized that the selected projects demonstrate how local leaders are identifying community priorities and turning those needs into practical improvements.
The 2026 projects cover a broad range of public safety and clean energy applications.
In Algonquin, the Algonquin Area Public Library District will use its funding to purchase two automated external defibrillators and train approximately 50 employees in their use. The Bartlett Park District will similarly strengthen emergency preparedness by purchasing a weather-protected AED that will be available to the public at Jim Jensen Pavilion in Apple Orchard Community Park.
Fire protection districts are also using the grants to upgrade equipment needed for emergency and technical rescue operations. The Beecher Fire Protection District will replace aging equipment with three battery-powered thermal imaging cameras and three battery-powered rescue saws. In Big Rock, the local fire protection district will purchase a battery-powered hydraulic rescue ram to improve its ability to respond to vehicle collisions and structural emergencies.
In Chicago, the 004th District Community Youth and Retirement Organization will install more than 20 solar-powered block club signs intended to improve neighborhood visibility, safety and engagement. IAVY Inc. will install permanent solar-powered lighting and electrical infrastructure at the South Side Sanctuary, with the goal of improving safety and accessibility at the facility.
The Village of Crete Emergency Management Agency will establish a multi-department public safety drone system that can be used by police, fire, emergency management and public works personnel. The technology is expected to provide additional capabilities for emergency response, situational awareness and coordination among municipal departments.
The City of Earlville Police Department will use grant funding to upgrade mobile data computers in two police vehicles. The equipment will provide officers with improved access to real-time information while supporting more efficient operations and emergency response.
Public access to AEDs is another recurring focus among this year’s recipients. The Fox Lake Police Department will place 12 AEDs in patrol vehicles, while the Orland Hills Police Department will purchase eight fully automatic AEDs for use by officers responding to cardiac emergencies before emergency medical personnel arrive.
The Schiller Park project will go further by purchasing nine rechargeable AEDs and providing CPR training throughout the village. Robbins Park District will install an AED at one of its facilities while also purchasing portable lighting equipment to support youth recreation programs during evening hours.
Several municipalities are using the program to improve traffic and pedestrian safety. The Village of North Aurora will purchase and install two solar-powered, cloud-connected speed radar signs along Banbury Road in response to speeding concerns affecting residents and students.
North Riverside will install solar-powered flashing stop signs, LED pedestrian crossing signs and a speed radar sign in high-traffic areas. The City of Oregon will purchase a radar speed trailer designed to encourage drivers to slow down and increase awareness of speed limits.
Park Forest Police Department will purchase five radar speed signs and provide officers with data-driven targeted speed enforcement training. The Village of Posen will install four solar-powered radar speed feedback signs and update school-zone speed limit signage around Posen Elementary School and Gordon Middle School.
The grants are also supporting safety initiatives in Hillside, where the village will install two Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations at the municipal complex. Each station will feature two charging ports, expanding local EV infrastructure while supporting the transition toward cleaner transportation.
Other projects address emergency preparedness in schools and public facilities. Teachers to the Rescue in Lanark will purchase bleeding-control equipment and individual first-aid kits for placement in schools and will provide training for school staff.
Leaf River Fire Protection District will acquire a battery-powered telescoping ram for vehicle and technical rescue activities. Sauk Village Fire Department will purchase two battery-powered chainsaws and train department personnel on safe operation, personal protective equipment requirements and equipment maintenance.
The Village of Skokie Police Department will acquire a mobile light tower and generator to support public safety operations during emergencies and power outages. Addison Township Highway Department in Wood Dale will purchase and install four AED stations throughout township facilities, addressing locations where AED equipment is currently unavailable.
The Family Peace Center in Rockford is taking a different approach to community safety by providing day-fare bus passes to survivors of domestic and sexual violence. The initiative is intended to improve access to transportation and help individuals reach essential support services.
Together, the 24 projects illustrate the range of needs that can be addressed through targeted community investment. While some grants focus directly on emergency response and first-aid capabilities, others emphasize renewable energy, electric transportation, traffic management, pedestrian protection and access to community services.
ComEd and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus are encouraging additional communities to participate in the program in the future. Applications for the 2027 Powering Safe Communities Program will provide municipalities, public agencies and nonprofit organizations with another opportunity to propose projects that improve local safety and advance cleaner, more resilient communities.
Through continued grant funding, matching investments and collaboration with local leaders, the program aims to extend the reach of community improvement efforts across northern Illinois. Its organizers say the long-term goal is to help communities implement practical solutions that respond to local priorities while creating safer and more sustainable places for residents to live, work and gather.
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