What does it mean to power a community? Electricity is only part of the equation. As a corporate citizen of northern Illinois for more than 100 years, ComEd believes in supporting community projects that can improve the quality of life for individuals and bring benefits to local businesses. For the City of Prospect Heights, it means creating a new biodiverse pollinator park that serves as a natural refuge for wildlife and vibrant green space for the community to enjoy.
With help from the ComEd Green Region Grant program, the Prospect Heights Natural Resources Commission transformed an area that provided no ecological or recreational value into a premium pollinator habitat for birds and insects. The 13-acre neighborhood lake was surrounded by turf grass and buckthorn that experienced flooding and shoreline erosion. Now, it features more than 80 species of native plants along with walking paths, informational signage, and a solstice garden. In addition to creating a vast pollinator habitat and stabilizing shoreline erosion, the park has become an attraction for residents to experience the intimacy of nature around them.
“The Pollinator Park has significantly contributed to the health of our local ecosystem and has become a cherished resource for our community,” said Dana Sievertson, Commissioner of Prospect Heights Natural Resources Commission. “We are grateful to ComEd for sponsoring this project and expressing their value for natural conservation. Together, we are establishing a greener, more sustainable future for all.”
For more information about Prospect Heights Green Region Grant projects and prairie restoration, visit phnrc.com.
Green Region is one of three ComEd Powering Communities Grant programs. Others include Powering Safe Communities and Powering the Arts. In addition to protecting and improving natural habitats, grants have helped fund local public safety and clean transportation projects, and increased access to arts and culture programs. ComEd understands the importance of these values and the benefits they bring to the lives of our customers.
“ComEd recognizes its responsibility to invest in the quality of life of our customers,” said Evelyn Rodriguez Estrada, ComEd’s director of corporate community impact. “Powering lives means more than safely delivering electricity, that’s why ComEd is committed to growing green spaces, promoting arts programs, and prioritizing safety in the communities we serve.”
In total, the Powering Communities Grant programs have delivered over $5.3 million in funding to support hundreds of local community-based projects since 2013. Through partnerships with leading organizations, ComEd provides grants of up to $10,000 each to selected community projects. Communities and nonprofit organizations can now apply for the ComEd Green Region, Powering Safe Communities or Powering the Arts grant programs.
The Green Region Grant program, in partnership with Openlands, supports non-profit, educational, and public organizations in their efforts to plan for, protect, and improve open space. Now in its thirteenth year, the grant program has supported the development of ADA-accessible trails, planted thousands of trees and vegetation, and facilitated land improvements, among other projects. A summary of 2024 Green Region grant recipients can be found here.
The Powering Safe Communities Grant program, in partnership with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, supports public safety and clean transportation initiatives. These grants support projects designed to increase public safety, reduce carbon emissions, and improve community resiliency. A summary of 2024 Powering Safe Communities grant recipients can be found here.
The Powering the Arts Grant program, in partnership with the League of Chicago Theatres, recognizes that increased access to the arts has a positive impact on the vibrancy of local communities. These grants support initiatives and workshops across northern Illinois communities to boost public awareness, community programming, engagement, and enjoyment of the arts. A summary of 2024 Powering the Arts grant recipients can be found here.
Grant applications for each program are being accepted through 5 p.m. Central Time on March 28, 2025. More information about each grant program, including eligibility and how to apply, can be found by visiting ComEd.com/Grants.
