title
PROPOSED GRANT AWARD
Department: Department of Resource Management
Grantee: Forest Preserves of Cook County (the “Forest Preserves”)
Grantor: Forest Preserve Foundation, Chicago, Illinois
Request: Authorization to accept grant
Purpose: Forest Preserve Experience Program, an outdoor learning and basic job skill training program available to high school-aged youth whose families are clients of the Housing Authority of Cook County
Grant Amount: $37,500.00
Grant Period: 12/15/2020 - 10/30/2021
Fiscal Impact: N/A
Accounts: Grant and Mitigation 51010.521444
Concurrences:
The Chief Financial Officer has approved this item. Final grant agreement is subject to legal review and approval.
District(s): Districtwide
Summary: The Forest Preserves has been awarded grant funds by the Forest Preserve Foundation to support operation of the Forest Preserve Experience (“FPE”) program in 2021. The FPE program is available to high school-aged youth whose families are clients of the Housing Authority of Cook County (“HACC”). The FPE will engage 75-100 youth who will conduct on-the-ground restoration activities that improve the ecological health of the Forest Preserves. Participants receive extensive environmental education and job skills training supplemented by nature-based enrichment activities which promote Forest Preserves awareness, and teach participants how healthy forest preserves contribute to their community and quality of life.
The FPE program is administered by Friends of the Forest Preserves through a contract issued under RFP #17-31-117, which was originally approved by the Forest Preserves of Cook County Board of Commissioners on 11/14/2017 (Board Item No. 17-0388), and subsequently amended on 12/11/2018 (Board Item No. 18-0507). The Forest Preserves hosts the program, and contributes training and environmental education activities for program participants.
Total project costs to be covered in full by the grant amount are $37,500.00. The Forest Preserves is not required to provide matching funds. Total costs to operate the FPE program are approximately $320,000.00 annually, of which the HACC has historically contributed approximately half directly to Friends of the Forest Preserves, and the remainder has been subsidized through grants, partner philanthropy and fundraising. Final grant agreement is subject to legal review and approval.
end