Northbrook Receives Green Grant

NORTHBROOK, IL — A prescribed burn and community outreach program planned by the Northbrook Park District, in partnership with the Village of Northbrook, has resulted in some grant money. To support habitats and other open-space projects throughout northern Illinois, ComEd and Openlands announced last week grants to 26 public agencies through the annual ComEd Green Region Program.

"Every year, the Green Region Program reminds us of the power of investment in local environmental projects to provide customers and communities with their own, unique green spaces," said Melissa Washington, senior vice president of governmental and external affairs at ComEd, in a statement. "With each grant, ComEd, alongside Openlands, helps ensure the enhancement of green space and biodiversity, while creating a lasting impact in the communities we’re so privileged to serve."

The Northbrook project involves completing prescribed burns of native landscaping to improve the vitality of the native landscapes and wildlife. It will also help develop educational programming and materials on native landscape care and connect with the park district’s existing programs.

Grantees each receive a one-time grant of up to $10,000 to support and improve open-space projects. To address the recent decline in pollinators in our service area, many of this year's projects focus on enhancing pollinator habitats and protecting species, such as butterflies, bees, and others, according to the release. Illinois is home to thousands of native pollinator species, which provide critical support to our region's flowering and food plant populations.

Since the inception of the Green Region Program in 2013, ComEd has awarded a total of more than $1.5 million to municipalities across northern Illinois, according to the release. This support has helped fund nearly 200 open-space projects, as well as restore and protect approximately 1,000 acres of land. ComEd provides the funding for the Green Region Program and Openlands, one of the oldest metropolitan conservation organizations in the nation, administers the grants to local communities.

Additional information on the ComEd Green Region Program can be found at Openlands.org/GreenRegion.