Aurora to offer grants to support community events

The City of Aurora invites community organizations and neighborhood groups to apply for Neighborhood Festival Funding Grants to assist with public community events in 2017.

Funds are available for groups that are hosting public events that acquaint Aurora residents with each other while educating participants about the community. Funds must be used for support services, which can include rental of equipment, rental of tables or chairs, general liability insurance, security or emergency personnel, etc.

Grants are available for up to $1,500, but cannot exceed more than 50 percent of the event budget. Available funding will be distributed among all eligible applicants.

Through one application, organizations and groups can apply for assistance from the Aurora African American Heritage Advisory Board, the Aurora Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board, the Indian American Community Outreach Advisory Board and Neighborhood Festival Funds.

Events that have received funding in the past include Roots Aurora, the LaSalle Street Car Show, Juneteenth, and Dia de los Muertos.

The funding application can be submitted completely online at aurora.seamlessdocs.com/f/festival_funding.

Hard copies can also be obtained at the Aurora Community Services Department, 51 E. Galena Blvd., and submitted in person to the same location or via email to dhakala@aurora-il.org.

The deadline to submit applications is Dec. 15 for events planned for Jan. 1 through June 30, 2017; and March 1, 2017 for events running from July 1 through Dec. 31, 2017.