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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION REGARDING THE COOK COUNTY WATER AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM FY2027 GRANTEE AUTHORIZATION FOR ELEVATE
WHEREAS, the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development (BED) seeks to enhance quality of life through equitable community and economic development, including initiatives designed to support residents and strengthen local units of government; and
WHEREAS, in 2023, BED initiated the planning phase for the Cook County Water Affordability Program, an initiative that included a leak repair assistance program, water utility bill assistance, and a water affordability technical assistance program for municipalities in suburban Cook County; and
WHEREAS, in 2024, BED began the implementation of the Cook County Water Affordability Program, which included the Cook County Leak Repair program and a municipal technical assistance program; and
WHEREAS, Cook County Leak Repair has now served over 1,000 households, saving participants almost 16,000 gallons of water per year, and, on average, $200 annually on their water bills; and
WHEREAS, the Leak Repair program has provided more than $200,000 in water bill debt relief to over 200 Cook County households, easing financial and emotional strain, and helping to stabilize residents by bringing overall household costs down; and
WHEREAS, the municipal technical assistance program completed water affordability action plans for 10 suburban Cook municipalities and implemented 33 pilot projects in 18 municipalities to address water affordability challenges; and
WHEREAS, Elevate Energy (Elevate) has been Cook County’s lead administrative partner for the Cook County Water Affordability Program since 2023, overseeing a set of initiatives that provide immediate relief to residents struggling with water costs while advancing long-term solutions for community-wide water affordability; and
WHEREAS, BED desires to continue the implementation of the Cook County Water Affordability Program in FY2027 and has designated Elevate as the sole source grantee, in accordance with the Cook County Open Call Policy, to continue its lead administrative role on this program; and
WHEREAS, the FY2027 BED budget, subject to Cook County Board approval, includes $1,316,278 to support the Cook County Water Affordability Program for a performance period beginning December 1, 2026, through November 30, 2027; and
WHEREAS, BED will provide monitoring, performance management, financial review, and compliance reporting for the Cook County Water Affordability Program throughout the duration of the performance period; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners hereby approves and authorizes BED to enter into a grant agreement with Elevate in an aggregate amount of up to $1,316,278 to continue implementation of the Cook County Water Affordability Program during FY2027 to provide relief to residents and support to municipalities, and subject to availability of future funding and satisfactory performance, BED may renew the grant agreement for FY2028; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Bureau Chief of BED or their designee to modify the agreement and funding allocation based upon need and utilization provided that the agreement value does not exceed $1,316,278; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be distributed to the participating organizations and relevant County offices as appropriate.
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