Village of Berkeley Awarded ComEd Powering the Holidays Grant

Berkeley, IL, October 30, 2023 – On October 25, 2023, ComEd and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus announced that the Village of Berkeley was among the 18 northern Illinois communities to receive a portion of the $45,000 in grant awards supporting holiday lights events in the area.

 "Festive displays of light are central to the treasured winter traditions of communities across northern Illinois," said Louie Binswanger, Senior Vice President of Government, Regulatory and External Affairs at ComEd. "In partnership with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, we are proud to power the magic of the season by supporting a variety of holiday lights displays designed to bring our communities together to celebrate their cultural traditions."

 The grant program, established in 2021, celebrates local communities’ identity and culture by supporting holiday programs that promote intercultural exchange and provide a pathway for all members of these communities to gain a sense of belonging. The program also aims to promote sustainability and energy efficiency through the use of LED lighting. With the addition of the 2023 grant recipients, ComEd has now awarded 46 communities and organizations a total of $113,000 in grants to power holiday lights events since 2021.

 The Village of Berkeley received $2500 to support its upcoming 4^th Annual Electric Lights Festival. This grant will expand the Village’s existing lights festival by adding new displays, all of which will be illuminated on December 1^st. The lights festival is a free, outdoor event featuring music and animated light displays along the historic Illinois Prairie Path across from Berkeley Village Hall at 5819 Electric Avenue and will run each night through January 15^th.