Downers Grove officially has eliminated its community grants program, almost four years after village leaders opted to stop funding it.
Council members voted to drop the program Oct. 21. Their vote also wipes out the commission charged with reviewing grant proposals — a committee with nothing to do and no money to award.
The move comes amid budget talks for 2015.
“It is a little disappointing that this is going away,” Commissioner Greg Hosé said. “But on another level, we have many demonstrable needs in the community that have to take precedence.””
About $335,000 of village dollars were given out to several nonprofit organizations between 2005 and 2009, the final year grants were awarded. Officials indefinitely halted the funding in 2010 to focus resources more on village operations and services.
Mayor Martin Tully said earlier this month that he felt the council should make a more permanent decision about the program rather than letting it sit inactive and unfunded. Council members then asked staff to prepare a motion wiping out the program for a formal vote.
Despite that initiative, Tully eventually voted against repealing the program.
“We’ve spent a fair amount of time talking about the importance value to community of not-for-profits. We don’t seem to be having the same conversation here,” Tully said.
Council members voted 4-1 to scrap the program. Commissioners Becky Rheintgen and Bob Barnett were absent.
