21 Northern Illinois Organizations Receive Grants Totaling $150,000 Through ComEd Green Region Grant Program

Openlands partnership funds projects that restore natural landscapes, improve green spaces and protect pollinator habitats

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ComEd and Openlands today announced the recipients of the 2026 ComEd Green Region Grant Program, awarding a total of $150,000 to 21 communities and organizations across northern Illinois. The grants will help fund projects that restore prairies, wetlands and woodlands, expand pollinator habitats, plant trees and create healthier, more resilient communities.

The Green Region Grant Program, now in its 14th year, reflects ComEd's ongoing partnership with Openlands to invest in community-led environmental initiatives. This year's grants place a special emphasis on projects that help communities respond to climate change while preserving and expanding outdoor spaces.

“ComEd is proud to invest in the neighborhoods we serve by supporting community-driven projects that enhance green spaces all across northern Illinois,” said Melissa Washington, senior vice president of Government, Regulatory, and External Affairs at ComEd. “This latest round of grant recipients features a mix of projects to expand pollinator sites, curb the effects of climate change and drive environmental innovations that will substantially impact the daily lives of our customers and communities throughout the region.”

Since the program launched in 2013, the Green Region Grant Program has awarded more than $2.6 million to support 320 projects across northern Illinois. Those investments have helped restore over 1,900 acres of land, build nearly 88,000 feet of ADA-accessible trails and plant more than 39,000 trees, creating long-term environmental and community benefits.

“The strength of the Green Region Grant Program is that it connects local action to a larger regional vision. A restored prairie, a protected wetland, a greener neighborhood or an improved trail may begin as a local project, but together these investments are changing the landscape of northern Illinois. After 14 years of working with ComEd and communities across the region, we can see the cumulative impact,” said Michael Davidson, president and CEO of Openlands.

ComEd partners with Openlands to administer the Green Region Grant Program, one of ComEd’s four Power for Good grant programs, alongside the Powering Safe Communities Grant Program, the Powering the Arts Grant Program and the Powering the Holidays Grant Program. To be eligible, recipients must match the grant funds with an investment of equal or greater value for their project.

More information is available at Openlands.org/GreenRegion.

The 21 recipients and their funded projects for the 2026 Green Region Grant Program are:

Boone County Conservation District (Belvidere) will remove invasive species and establish native prairie habitats to support pollinators, including the endangered rusty patched bumble bee.

Pilot Light (Chicago, Belmont Cragin & Waukegan) will support pollinators by planting outdoor learning spaces at John R. Lewis Middle School in Waukegan and Prosser Career Academy in Chicago's Belmont Cragin neighborhood, expanding environmental education for students and community members.

Illinois Medical District Commission (Chicago, Illinois Medical District) will expand pollinator and sensory gardens while improving accessibility, workforce training opportunities and community education.

Edna White Community Garden (Chicago, Morgan Park) will enhance one of Chicago’s largest community-managed gardens by expanding native plantings, conserving water resources and improving pollinator habitats.

Friends of Winnslie Parkway (Chicago, Ravenswood) will plant native trees, shrubs and pollinator-friendly vegetation along a new public greenway in Chicago.

Major Taylor Trail Keepers Chicago (Chicago, West Pullman) will develop a climate-resilient pollinator habitat along the Major Taylor Trail while planning future ecological improvements nearby.

Downers Grove Park District (Downers Grove) will restore native prairie habitat at Lyman Woods, support pollinator populations, and engage the community through environmental education and stewardship opportunities.

Friends of Nachusa Grasslands (Franklin Grove) will enhance prairie and oak savanna habitats, control invasive species and engage volunteers in conservation work.

Geneva Park District (Geneva) will restore prairie habitat at Peck Farm Park by planting native plant species and strengthening ecological resilience.

The Village of Indian Head Park (Indian Head Park) will install a rain garden and pollinator corridor designed to reduce flooding while creating an educational green space for residents.

Friends of the Forest Preserve District of Will County (Joliet) will advance biodiversity through ecological restoration that will enhance pollinator habitats and protect rare native plant communities.

The Wilder World Trust (Lemont) will restore pollinator meadows and shoreline habitat through invasive species removal and native plantings that support wildlife.

Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves (Lincolnshire) will improve natural habitat across three Westfork Nature Preserves by removing invasive plants and supporting rare species and pollinators.

West Leyden High School Ecology/Recycling Club (Northlake) will expand its existing prairie by replacing turf grass with native plants while adding educational signage and webcams to improve public access and learning.

Community Development Corporation of PHP (Pembroke Township) will install interpretive signage at Okàn Savanna to encourage environmental education, community engagement and long-term stewardship.

Friends of Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge (Prairie Grove) will restore native oak savanna habitat through native seeding and invasive species removal to support pollinators and improve climate resilience.

Friends of the Forest Preserves (Riverdale) will engage community scientists to monitor native bee populations and restore pollinator habitat through targeted native seed plantings at Whistler Woods.

Klehm Arboretum and Botanic Garden Inc (Rockford) will improve woodland habitats by removing invasive vegetation and planting native canopy trees that support pollinators and enhance the visitor experience.

Natural Land Institute (Rockford) will restore a 26-acre agricultural field to native prairie habitat at Lost Flora Fen on Raccoon Creek to expand pollinator habitat and improve biodiversity.

Waukegan Park District (Waukegan) will create a 3-acre pollinator prairie at Henry Pfau Callahan Park, transforming a former landfill site into a habitat for pollinators and other native species.

Nippersink Watershed Association (Wonder Lake) will create a new trail and pollinator garden at the Merchant Creek Corridor in Wonder Lake, expanding public access and enhancing pollinator habitat.

About ComEd

ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NASDAQ: EXC), a Fortune 200 company and one of the nation’s largest utility companies, serving more than 10.7 million electricity and natural gas customers. ComEd powers the lives of more than 4.2 million customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state’s population. For more information, visit ComEd.com, and connect with the company on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and YouTube.

About Openlands

Founded in 1963, Openlands protects the natural and open spaces of northeastern Illinois and the surrounding region to ensure cleaner air and water, protect natural habitats and wildlife, and help balance and enrich our lives. Openlands works across areas to advance nature-based solutions to climate change, improve the health and well-being of communities, and create a more verdant region for all.