Aurora wins $50,000 youth climate grant to fund youth-led microgrants

The Committee of the Whole on July 21 approved moving a $50,000 Youth Climate Action Fund grant to the consent agenda and heard details about how the money will be used to fund city-run youth microgrants.

Simon Rodriguez, the city's Youth Services Manager, told the council that Aurora is one of 300 international cities selected for the Bloomberg Philanthropies'administered program. "We will receive $50,000 to go towards small micro grants in the amount of $1,000 to $5,000 per project," Rodriguez said, adding that eligible projects must be youth-led and align with the city's sustainability plan. Rodriguez said the city will target high schools, colleges and youth-serving nonprofits in outreach.

The city plans to launch the application on Aug. 24, keep the window open for six weeks and review applications from Oct. 6 to Nov. 3. Aurora Youth Council and the Sustainability Board will assist in the review and recommendations. Rodriguez said the microgrants must be led by people ages 15 to 24 and gave Alive Aurora as an example of an adult-led organization whose students could be the applicants.

Alderwoman Smith pressed staff to ensure outreach reaches historically underrepresented wards; Rodriguez said the program is citywide and staff will use the education commission, youth council, superintendents and a dedicated website and FAQ to publicize the opportunity. The council added the grant acceptance to the consent agenda.