Evanston, NU Announce Allocation Of 2017 Good Neighbor Fund

EVANSTON, IL — Evanston Mayor Steve Hagerty and Northwestern University President Mort Schapiro Thursday laid out which programs will receive funding from this year's $1 million donation by the school to the City of Evanston's Good Neighbor Fund. Money will go to improving parks and city-owned facilities, paramedic services and job training for young people, according to an announcement from the city.

“Northwestern is much more than just a good neighbor, it’s a partner in our community's success," Hagerty said, thanking Schapiro and Northwestern. "I look forward to continuing our strong spirit of cooperation and support for many years to come.”

This year marks the third consecutive year Northwestern has made a $1 million donation to the fund, following a March 2015 agreement in which the university agreed to make annual contributions of $1 million for five years.

The money is spent on projects and services that are mutually agreed upon by Evanston's mayor and Northwestern's president after the mayor proposes a list of eligible products on July 1. Neither the city council nor members of the Evanston public or Northwestern student body participate in the decision making.

Past programs paid for by the fund include the Sheridan Road Improvement Project and funding an ambulance crew for a year.

Northwestern University President Morton Schapiro said he was pleased to support the projects that will receive money from the Good Neighbor Fund.

“One of Northwestern’s key assets is our location in Evanston, a vibrant and thriving community where many of our faculty and staff live," he said, once again, in a news release announcing the donation. "Our partnerships with the City of Evanston and the Evanston schools continue to grow, and this contribution demonstrates our commitment to our home town.”

Here's where they decided to spend the money this year:

• $325,000 for Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center interior improvements, including renovation of the auditorium, the lobby, and the office adjacent to the lobby. The office improvements will make the center’s customer service counter ADA accessible.
• $220,000 to support Evanston Fire Department paramedic services
• $160,000 to support existing job training programs for at-risk youth
• $100,000 for renovation of the Harbert Park basketball court
• $100,000 to support the City’s Youth and Young Adult Division. This allocation will cover the salary of two of the five existing full-time outreach workers.
• $70,000 to support a full-time social worker at the Evanston Public Library
• $25,000 for a CTA/Union Pacific Viaduct Beautification Pilot Project

This year's allocation will provide funding to the above projects and services selected for the 12-month period beginning September 1, 2017.

Under its charter with the state, the university is exempt from having to pay property taxes. It had donated Evanston previously, but the the 2015 agreement was the first time it committed to repeat contributions.

Earlier this year, the city discussed establishing an memorandum of understanding with the university to compensate Evanston for lost property tax revenue when Northwestern buys more property, according to a report in the Evanston Review.

In June, a petition from an Evanston activist suggested opening up the process to the community and let residents participate in deciding how the money gets spent.

Officials from Northwestern University declined to comment on the idea, and Hagerty said he was open to the petition but didn't expect the process to change, according to Pioneer Press.

"Right now the $1 million from Northwestern remains at the mayor's discretion and will likely remain so. However, I'm open to the petition," Hagerty told the paper in July.

Northwestern is due to make two more annual $1 million contributions to the fund.

» via the City of Evanston

_{Top Photo: Jaysin Trevino (CC)}