title
PROPOSED GRANT AWARD
Department: Environment and Sustainability
Grantee: Cook County Government
Grantor: U.S Department of Energy
Request: Authorization to accept grant
Purpose: Solar and battery storage for Community Resilience Hubs
Grant Amount: $1,072,210.00
Grant Period: 1/1/2025 - 12/31/2026
Fiscal Impact: (FY2025 $72,210.00); (FY2026 $1,000,000)
Accounts: None
Concurrences:
The Budget Department has received all requisite documents and determined the fiscal impact on Cook County, if any.
Summary: Cook County will use the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) award to add solar energy and battery storage to two community resilience hubs within suburban Cook County. Cook County started a community resilience hub pilot program using allocated American Rescue Plan Act funding and will be using EECBG to supplement that program allocation in Harvey and Chicago Heights, IL, two Justice40 communities. Resilience Hubs are existing physical facilities that provide day-to-day services and resources that address community chronic stressors and support the community during disaster events. They look to address both community capacity building and emergency functions. The hubs leverage existing and trusted facilities that are used year-round as centers for community building activities. Resilience hubs work at the nexus of climate mitigation, adaptation, and equity to enhance and improve community sustainability and resilience through a bottom-up approach centered on community co-development and building local power and leadership.
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