ComEd Powering the Holidays Grant Program

The ComEd Powering the Holidays Program is a grant initiative administered by the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus in partnership with ComEd. Now in its fifth year, the program provides financial support for community-based holiday lights events across ComEd’s service territory. ComEd, a major electric utility in Illinois, developed this program to recognize the positive impact holiday celebrations can have on a community, both socially and culturally. The program encourages municipalities and partner organizations to create events that celebrate local identity, foster intercultural understanding, and strengthen residents’ sense of belonging. The program offers grants of up to $2,500 to support holiday lights events occurring between November 1, 2025, and February 13, 2026. Eligible uses of funding include the purchase or upgrade of lighting equipment, decorations, and public holiday displays, with an emphasis on energy-efficient lighting when possible. Examples of eligible items include tree lighting and decorations, lamp post and park decorations, public area displays, holiday trees, and safety or reliability improvements for lighting systems. Funds may also be used for services related to installation or removal of lighting displays, as well as event-related services such as entertainment or activities for children. Eligibility is limited to municipalities, townships, counties, and other local governments located within ComEd’s Illinois service area, specifically in the counties of Boone, Bureau, Carroll, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Ford, Grundy, Henry, Iroquois, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, Lee, Livingston, Marshall, McHenry, Ogle, Rock Island, Stephenson, Whiteside, Will, Winnebago, and Woodford. Not-for-profit organizations and cultural institutions may also apply if they partner with at least one municipality and can provide proof of municipal support through a letter from the relevant official. Organizations in Chicago must provide a letter from the local alderman, while those in other areas must provide a letter from the mayor, village president, or city/village manager. Applicants must also be in good standing with ComEd in relation to utility services. Recipients from 2023 and 2024 are ineligible, but those funded in 2021 or 2022 may reapply. The 2025 application cycle opens on July 7, 2025, and closes on August 29, 2025. Award announcements are expected in late October 2025. Applications are submitted online, and applicants are encouraged to review the Powering the Holidays Grant Guidelines before submission. The guidelines detail eligible activities, event requirements, and scoring criteria used in the review process. While specific scoring criteria are not listed in the provided information, the goals of the program—celebrating community identity, encouraging cultural exchange, and fostering community belonging—are central to the selection process. The grant is designed as a one-time award per cycle, and while it is not offered on a rolling basis, it does recur annually. No matching funds are required, and applicants may request the full award amount as needed for their project. Funding is distributed to successful applicants with the expectation that all expenditures align with the stated eligible activities. Applicants or interested parties with questions about the program should contact Ben Schnelle at bschnelle@mayorscaucus.org. Additional information, including a list of previous grant recipients and other ComEd grant opportunities such as the Green Region and Powering the Arts Programs, is available through the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus website.