CHICAGO (Jan. 8, 2026) — The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus awarded 10 more Low-Income Energy Efficiency Outreach & Engagement grants to support energy-efficiency education, reduce household energy burden, and build regional resilience in the ComEd territory in northeastern Illinois. The first tranche of twenty-three grant awards was made in November, and these 10 additional grants bring the total to $756,000 awarded to 33 organizations.
Eleven local governments, including municipalities, townships and the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association, received grants to serve low-income residents from the Chicago Southland to Rockford. Twenty-one community-based organizations and one community action agency will receive grant awards to serve diverse communities across the region. Winning grant projects will use innovative and effective strategies and robust community networks to help their constituents learn about and practice energy efficiency, as well as access a wide range of programs to help lower their household energy burden.
Additional Low-Income Energy Efficiency Outreach & Engagement grants will be awarded to the following communities and organizations:
African American Christian Foundation will leverage their trusted community presence and establish a network to deliver energy efficiency education in Chicago and the western suburbs through their preexisting housing, workforce development, and social service programs. Additionally, AACF will partner with the Village of Oak Park to educate their residents through AACF-hosted events.
Association House of Chicago will engage more than 3,000 low-income residents in Humboldt Park and west side neighborhoods primarily through their Community Health and Latin United Community Housing program. AHC will share information about energy efficiency practices at their annual Back to School event and housing counseling.
Blacks in Green (BIG) has served as an elected member of the IQ North Leadership Team providing advocacy, consulting, and leadership to the development of the IQ North/LIEEAC Leadership Team and will continue to advise and foster community connections.
Chicago Westside Branch of the NAACP will host a sustainability event for Earth Day to showcase best practices for green living. They will invite environmentally focused vendors, host seminars and demonstrations to promote green living, aiming to close the knowledge gap and dispel false assumptions that residents may have about green living.
City of Rolling Meadows Human Services Department will host an inclusive, multilingual Family Resource Fair to educate low-income residents about energy efficiency practices.
Community Action Partnership of Lake County will host and attend events, such as Lunch & Learns, Train the Trainer events, and resource fairs.
Giving Others Dreams will leverage their existing community services like their food pantry, in-person education and digital resources to educate low-income residents in South Shore, South Chicago, South Deering, and Jeffery Manor about energy efficiency.
Students of the RR Trade School, Inc will create engaging “energy vampire” themed table-top energy efficiency exhibits for all LIEEOE grant recipients to support their community engagement in their communities.
Sauk Village will host targeted community workshops in Village Hall, public libraries, and community centers and leverage their partnerships to educate residents about energy-savings strategies. These workshops will include demonstrations, Q&A sessions, and resources for residents to take home. The village will also conduct one-on-one outreach to eligible households to ensure that the information about energy efficiency programs is clear and understood.
South Suburban Land Bank and Development Authority will explore and plan for the possibility of comprehensive and impactful energy efficiency investments that would dovetail with low-income home rehabilitation done by non-profit land banks. SSLBDA will work with member communities, utilities, and contractors to align knowledge, programs and processes for future investment in model energy efficient homes.
Here are the other grantees that we had announced in November.
