An Aurora City Council committee has recommended about $1 million in Quality of Life grants for 2024.
Aldermen on the Public Health, Safety and Transportation Committee recently recommended funding to 39 out of 49 organizations that applied, totaling just over $1 million.
The type of activities covered, and the number of each grant in those activities, are 18 in education and youth; seven in community; five in basic needs; four for seniors; three for mental health; and two for museums.
The city received about 49 requests totaling $1.75 million, according to Chris Ragona, Community Development Department manager.
He said a scoring review committee made up of himself; Amy Munro, redevelopment coordinator; and Adam Grubbs, management assistant; reviewed aspects of each application based on certain criteria.
The criteria included completeness and quality of the application; budget including sources and uses; grant management experience; past performance; the ability to operate or carry on the project with a reduced amount of funds; performance metrics; duplication of services; and the ability to serve Aurora residents.
City staff also completed good standing checks with the city’s Division of Revenue and Collections, the state of Illinois, the Internal Revenue Service and federal debarment registry to confirm each applicant’s funding eligibility, Ragona saiid.
Also, staff did numerous site visits and conducted additional research to confirm the accuracy of the applicants’ described service areas and outcomes, he said.
“Sometimes we have to make some tough decisions,” Ragona said.
The recommended grants and organizations include: Fox Valley United Way SPARK program, $25,000; Indian Prairie Educational Foundation, $5,000; Loaves and Fishes, $25,000; Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry, $25,000; YWCA early childhood emergency fund, $15,000; Aurora Area Crime Stoppers, $4,500; Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry, $21,000; and Fox Valley Special Recreation Foundation, $5,000.
Also, Hope for Tomorrow, homeless men’s and veterans recovery home program, $19,000; Ladder Up, a tax income preparation and financial support services program for low-income residents, $20,000; Lewis Simmons Foundation, $10,000; African American Men of Unity, $20,000; Agape, $11,000; Alive Center, $11,500; Aurora Starz, $3,000; Boys Baseball of Aurora, $2,500; Boys and Girls Club of Elgin, $7,500; and Communities in Schools, $290,000.
Also, Dominican Literacy Center, $10,000; Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois, $19,000; Imperfect Angels, $5,000; Marie Wilkinson Child Development Center, $20,000; Northern Illinois Food Bank, $20,000; Quad County Urban League, $15,000; Simply Destinee SEEDS program, $15,000; The Start Program, $2,500; Three Fires Council, Boy Scouts of America, $10,000; and Waubonsee Community College, Aurora Adult Education learners, $10,000.
Also, Wayside Cross – Youth Services Program, $14,000; Wheatland Athletic Association, $10,000; World Relief, $15,500; Judah Robinson Foundation for homeless mental health intervention, $10,000; NAMI DuPage, $10,000; Aurora Historical Museum, $50,000; and Aurora Regional Fire Museum, $50,000.
Also, DuPage Senior Citizens Council, $25,000; Northern Illinois Food Bank senior grocery program, $25,000; Riverwalk Adult Day Services, $9,000; Xilin, to manage aging life, $19,000; Ritas Ministries, $23,000; and Association for Individual Development victim services program, $100,000.
Most of the Quality of Life funding comes from Hollywood Casino-Aurora gaming tax funds.
