Winfield to receive $900,000 annual grant from Central DuPage Hospital

Winfield will receive a $900,000 annual grant over each of the next five years from Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital as part of an agreement finalized Monday, officials said.

“The purpose of the grant is to promote economic development, improve the efficiency of village services, and improve the village's financial position,” Village President Erik Spande said in an email to the Daily Herald.

The village board approved the grant agreement on Dec. 23, but the “final wording changes” weren't completed until Monday.

“We recognize the unique economic challenges facing Winfield,” CDH President Brian Lemon said in a statement released Monday afternoon. The hospital, he said, “is committed to working with the village to ensure Winfield remains a great place to live, raise families and receive high-quality health care. Our collaboration with the village of Winfield is designed to encourage economic development while stimulating the village's economy.”

“I am pleased to reinforce the partnership between the hospital and the village and look forward to further collaborative efforts between our organizations,” Spande said in his own statement.

CDH made the new offer after Winfield trustees rejected the hospital's first proposal to give the village an annual $500,000 grant. The board was seeking roughly $1.4 million a year from CDH to help pay for the services Winfield provides to the hospital.

For months, village officials argued that CDH, which is in downtown Winfield, hasn't fully reimbursed the municipality for police, road maintenance and other services for the hospital.

Winfield trustees even voted to put an advisory question on the March 15 primary election ballot that would ask voters if the village board should begin taxing CDH's operations. The village clerk would have submitted that ballot question to DuPage County election officials had an agreement not been finalized Monday, but officials said it's no longer necessary.