Four Northwest suburbs among recipients of ComEd public safety grants
Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates, Hawthorn Woods and Kildeer are among 20 northern Illinois communities to have received grants for specific public safety projects from a partnership between ComEd and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus.
"For the past six years, the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus has been grateful to partner with ComEd and administer the Powering Safe Communities Program," Bartlett Village President and Mayors Caucus Executive Board Chairman Kevin Wallace said in a statement. "We are proud to help local governments throughout the region provide more effective public health and safety services."
A total of $170,000 was awarded this year, with a maximum individual amount of $10,000 per community. All four local suburbs received the full amount they'd applied for.
Schaumburg received $10,000 to help replace outdated warning signs in use since the 1970s with signs equipped with sirens that are compatible with new battery backup systems. These signs will alert people of dangerous conditions even during a power outage. The advanced warning they will provide gives residents more time to seek shelter from incoming threats.
Hoffman Estates' $8,590 grant will support replacement of the fire department's 20-year-old ventilation fans with new positive-pressure, battery-powered fans that will be placed on all four front-line fire engines.
The Hawthorn Woods Police Department has received $10,000 to help replace three outdated camera systems in its squad cars. The department will update the video systems with upgraded technology.
Kildeer police have been awarded $8,702 to help purchase a full-matrix message display board with a trailer for use by the village and the Southwest Community Response Team in Lake County. The department will use the message display board to address public safety needs and enhance communication to residents on health and education.
Since its creation seven years ago, the Powering Safe Communities Program has provided more than $1 million in grants for 136 local public safety projects throughout northern Illinois. ComEd began partnering with the Chicago area's Metropolitan Mayors Caucus on the program in 2016.