Grants of up to $25,000 are available to local governments and other community-based organizations located within ComEd service territory to support education and outreach aimed at assisting low-income households. 

 Education and outreach activities may include but are not limited to: 

· Providing energy efficiency education to low-income utility customers, 

· Sharing information about available low-income energy efficiency programs. 

The goal of this program is to promote energy-efficient practices, and increase awareness of and participation in utility-supported energy efficiency programs and services. 

 Application Information: Grants of up to $25,000 per organization will be made on a reimbursable basis. No matching contribution is required. Apply by 11:59 PM on November 5, 2025 using the following guidelines. A Cover Letter is required. 

Eligible Applicants: Community-based organizations as defined by the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) are eligible to apply. It says, "Community-based organizations" means an organization that: (1) provides employment, skill development, or related services to members of the community; (2) includes community colleges, nonprofits, and local governments; (3) has at least one main operating office in the community or region it serves; and (4) demonstrates relationships with local residents and other organizations serving the community.”

To receive grant funds, projects must demonstrate education and engagement of low-income (income eligible) utility customers in the ComEd territory. Low income is defined as customers whose income is at or below 80% Area Median Income (AMI). Find location-specific income eligibility managed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) choose the chart for your region here.  

Timeline:

· An intent to apply is due on October 22, 2025, and should be submitted via email to Tori Woolbright at twoolbright@mayorscaucus.org (optional). 

Grant applications are due on November 5, 2025.

· Grant awards will be made by November 12, 2025.

· Grant agreements must be executed between the successful applicant and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus by December 15, 2025.

· Projects must start before December 30, 2025 and initial grant costs must be incurred and invoiced by December 30, 2025.

· Outreach and Engagement project must be completed by December 30, 2026.

Eligible Energy Efficiency Outreach and Education Projects:

Applicants may propose a variety of outreach and engagement activities that effectively engage low-income households, support their participation in energy efficiency programs and practices, and educates them on the benefits of saving energy.

This grant program seeks proposals from organizations that have capacity to provide education and outreach to low-income households, even if they have not previously conducted energy-related outreach in the past. The intent is to foster broad and inclusive participation that equitably serves low-income households, especially those living in environmental justice communities and black, indigenous, and persons of color (BIPOC) communities. 

 Projects must start before December 30, 2025, and must be completed by December 30, 2026.

 Applicants should consider utilizing the following pathways for delivering energy efficiency outreach and education which are commonly available to local governments and community-based organizations:

 1. Information about energy efficiency and resources may effectively be added to enhance existing programs serving low-income households, such as-

a. Housing Programs

b. Social Service Programs

c. Public Safety Programs

 2. Community relationships may be leveraged to deliver education and outreach though organizations such as-

a. Municipal Programs and Bodies

b. Non-profit and Community-based partnerships

c. Community-based Committees and Coalitions

 3. A variety of communication tools may be enhanced to effectively deliver information about energy efficiency practices and programs to low-income households including - 

a. Stationary Communications like posters, marquees, brochure racks, exhibits

b. Digital and Print Communications

 4. Events where community members gather with neighbors, partners, resource providers, and other stakeholders offer a myriad of opportunities for education about energy efficiency. Such events may include-

a. Neighborhood/Ward/Homeowner Association (HOA) events

b. Festivals and Community Events

c. Targeted Events like resource fairs, back to school events, and homeowner/renter workshop

 5. Other innovative pathways 

Eligible Costs: Labor, professional services, supplies, materials, and local travel and meeting expenses needed to conduct effective outreach and education activities. 

Costs that are unrelated, unreasonable or inappropriate may be deemed ineligible.  

 Complementary resources: Applicants may request additional technical assistance to make presentations, meet with stakeholders, and share practical and technical information with community members about energy efficiency. Speakers and educators may be available to support community events and activities at no cost. 

Applicants may also request educational resources to make energy efficiency outreach engaging and entertaining. See examples of energy efficiency activities here. Energy efficiency games that are suitable for community events may be available to engage kids and adults in learning about energy efficiency. Energy efficiency-themed prizes may also be available for distribution at events that effectively engage target populations. See examples of games and prizes here.  

Authorization: These funds are made available through the Low-Income Energy Efficiency Accountability Committee (“LIEEAC”) which is authorized by the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), which was enacted by the Illinois General Assembly and signed into law by Governor J.B. Pritzker on September 21, 2021.

 The funding for education and outreach grants is provided by ratepayers of ComEd and is based on the size of the utility’s energy efficiency portfolio. Projects must provide benefits to low income ComEd customers. These funds must be obligated by December 30, 2025, however approved grants may continue work through 2026. 

 The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus (Caucus) is serving as the facilitator to LIEEAC under the guidance of the LIEEAC Leadership Team under contract to ComEd with oversight by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). The Caucus is the administrator of the Low-Income Energy Efficiency Outreach and Engagement Grant program.

 If applicants have questions or require clarifications, inquiries can be submitted via email to Edith Makra, emakra@mayorscaucus.org, or Tori Woolbright, twoolbright@mayorscaucus.org. 

The Caucus will be loaning out two different energy efficiency games for municipalities’ upcoming events. There are four energy efficiency challenge wheels available for municipalities to borrow for Earth Day and other events. There are two energy efficiency toss games. For details and pictures of these games, go to: https://mayorscaucus.org/energy-efficiency-games/

**Because the grant funding for this project ended on June 30, 2023, we do not have the funds to ship the games. If you would like to borrow a game after June 30th, then you will need to pick it up from one of our game locations or from the municipality that last borrowed the game for an event, and then drop it off to us or the next municipality that is having an event. Another option is to provide us with your UPS or FedEx account number, if you would like to pay for the games to be shipped to you.**

These games will be loaned out on a first-come, first-served basis. Please complete this form if you have an upcoming event and would like to ensure that your community can borrow it on that day.

These games and prizes for municipalities were made possible through the generous support of the Illinois Science & Energy Innovation Foundation (ISEIF). 

If you are interested in joining the waitlist for our EV Readiness Program, then please fill out this form. We just kicked off the fourth cohort in September of 2025 and expect that they will finish the program by the spring of 2026. After they finish the program and an award ceremony is held in the summer, we will ask waitlisted communities if they would like to join the fifth cohort.

For background information on the EV Readiness Program, go to https://mayorscaucus.org/initiatives/environment/becoming-ev-ready/.

The CS2 Residential Program allows municipalities to extend fair and transparent community solar subscription terms to their residents and small businesses. Local governments provide a trusted voice to citizens to let them know that a community solar offer is credible. The CS2 Residential Program can provide subscribers with a guaranteed minimum 10% savings of the community solar credits they receive on their bill. The program also provides equitable access to community solar by seeking projects that do not require credit checks.

To express interest in participating in the Community Solar Clearinghouse Solution (CS2) Program for Residents, then please fill out this form. Filling out this form is the first step in the process. 

This site will also allow you to upload documents later in the process, like the approved municipal resolution and required marketing designation documentation. 

For information on the next steps of the process, go to our CS2 webpage at https://mayorscaucus.org/initiatives/environment/community-solar-clearinghouse-solution-program-cs2program/.