Inaugural Powering Community Safety grant program to fund 17 projects in ComEd service territory

ComEd and the National Safety Council (NSC) awarded more than $137,000 in Powering Community Safety grants to 17 municipalities located in northern Illinois to support their continuing efforts to improve local safety initiatives.

Recognizing that safe communities are crucial to the quality of our lives, eligible municipalities received cash grants for improvements made to advance their journey to safety excellence.

“At ComEd, safety is our number one priority – for our customers, our employees, our contractors, and the communities where we live and work every day,” said Terence Donnelly, executive vice president and chief operating officer, ComEd. “It's important that we all work together to ensure the safety of our fellow citizens and colleagues, and ComEd is proud to be working with the National Safety Council to strengthen our Chicagoland communities.”

“ComEd has the strongest commitment to safety, and we’re proud to support our local neighborhoods and municipalities who are working hard to prioritize and promote safety for their citizens,” said Fidel Marquez, senior vice president of Governmental and External Affairs, ComEd. “We’re excited to launch this program in partnership with the National Safety Council and congratulate all of the grant recipients on this important recognition.”

"These grants empower communities to reduce day-to-day risks by creating safer school zones, deploying AEDs and being better prepared to respond to emergency situations," said Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. "We are proud of these Northern Illinois communities for investing in the safety of their residents so we can put an end to preventable injuries and deaths."

NSC, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to save lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes and communities, will administer the Powering Community Safety grants and programs developed through the funding, as well as distribute a maximum of $10,000 per project for each approved application.

Grantees will be recognized at a reception in Oakbrook, Il., on September 22, 2015.

The 17 inaugural Powering Community Safety grant recipients are:

  • Kendall County Sheriff’s OfficeFunds from this grant will be used to obtain seven Power Heart G3 AEDs Plus and seven Shok Box Watertight cases to be used by the patrol division in their squad cars. These will allow deputies to more accurately access medical emergencies and provide lifesaving technology in a timelier manner.
  • Village of New Lenox Police DepartmentThis project will include the purchase of 150 Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) backpacks and supplies. With the backpacks and supplies, community members who complete a 20-hour basic CERT class will be properly equipped and prepared for emergencies and disasters.
  • City of Park Ridge Police DepartmentThe grant will be used to purchase supplies for the Park Ridge Citizen Corps, a group that coordinates volunteer activities that help to make the community safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to emergency situations. The Corps provides opportunities for residents to participate in a range of measures to make their communities safer from the threats of crime, terrorism, and disasters of all kinds.
  • Village of Stone ParkFunding from this grant will be used to replace obsolete and secondhand fire protection equipment such as bunker gear, gloves, and hoods.
  • Village of Tower LakesThis funding will support the installation of an emergency back-up generator for the Village Hall so that community and police service will not be interrupted or compromised in the event of a major emergency.
  • Village of Lansing Police DepartmentThis project will consist of the purchase of a SpeedAlert 18 Radar Message Sign, equipped with SmartApps Traffic Suite. The goal is to promote safe driving within the Village and is aimed at providing public awareness through instant feedback and data analysis of vehicle speeds in school zones and other areas throughout the village.
  • Village of Fox LakeThe Village of Fox Lake seeks to implement the placement and deployment of six AEDs within village emergency response units. The Fox Lake police, public works, and water department personnel are on the road and in environments that would benefit from having these life-saving devices on hand.
  • City of Palos HillsThis project will increase the chance of saving sudden cardiac arrest victims by purchasing five automated external defibrillators (AED). The Palos Hills Police Department intends to place a rescue AED in each of the four main city buildings.
  • Village of Prairie GroveFunding will equip police officers and other trained staff with AED units in police squad cars and Village Hall Boardroom. Receipt of this equipment will enable the Village to have immediate access to equipment that could be the difference between life and death.
  • Village of NilesThe goal of this project, Safety Town, is to provide young children an all-important understanding of safety issues that they will face during their daily lives. The lessons that will be taught in this program include a wide variety of safety issues including: traffic signs and signals, pedestrian travel, railroad crossing and bicycle, vehicular, and school bus safety.
  • Village of Schaumburg Fire DepartmentThe Schaumburg Fire Department will implement a new ‘Smart Burner’ program village-wide. Home inspections will be conducted at the homeowner’s request with fire prevention guidelines given to residents. The number one focus will be to find electric stove top equipment and recommend the Smart Burner change free to residents.
  • Village of Beach Park Fire DepartmentThis project will provide the fire department with AEDs to equip and better prepare firefighters. In addition to providing the equipment, the Beach Park Fire Department also intends to train local personnel, local government, business owners, and community residents on CPR and how to use the AED machines.
  • Village of SenecaThe Village of Seneca’s School Crossing Warning Lights Project purpose is to provide a safer environment for the kids going to and from school. The Village’s major school crossings are located on State Highway Route 170, and this project would allow the installation of three solar powered, flashing warning signs along the road to minimize the danger to school children.
  • Lockport Police DepartmentThis grant will be used to purchase traffic light preemption systems to provide emergency vehicles a green light at intersections. The added equipment is expected to reduce driver confusion, reduce conflicts, and improve emergency response times.
  • City of Harvard Police DepartmentThis project will service the community by replacing outdated warning sirens that function to warn residents of emergency situations.
  • Village of Lake ZurichFunds awarded to the Village of Lake Zurich will assist in their journey to school zone safety excellence. New electronic signage will provide the motoring public with the education of their speed along with the risk of enforcement. This process will educate drivers in school zones and increase pedestrian safety by reducing speeds.
  • Kingston Police DepartmentThe Kingston Police Department will use awarded funds to purchase a Kustom Speed Lidar speed detecting until to enforce the speed limit within the Village of Kingston and the school zone located around the Kingston Grade School, which is located on a State Highway.

About ComEd

Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the nation’s leading competitive energy provider, with approximately 7.8 million customers. ComEd provides service to approximately 3.8 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, Twitter and YouTube.

About the National Safety Council

Founded in 1913 and chartered by Congress, the National Safety Council, nsc.org, is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to save lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the road through leadership, research, education and advocacy. NSC advances this mission by partnering with businesses, government agencies, elected officials and the public in areas where we can make the most impact – distracted driving, teen driving, workplace safety, prescription drug overdoses and Safe Communities.

ComEd Media Relations:312-394-3500orNational Safety Council Media Relations:630-775-2226

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