'Excited To Bring New And Expanded Events:' Lisle Launches Special Events Grant Fund

LISLE, IL — Lisle recently announced the launch of its new Special Events Grant Program, which aims to enrich the village with new events and enhance established events. After opening grant applications in December, the village is "excited to see the response," Community Engagement Specialist Amanda Pazdan told Patch.

Pazdan said the village has directed $50,000 to be allotted in the fiscal year 2025-26 budget for the first series of grants, though the budget will not be up for approval until sometime around February 2025. Grant money would come from the village's hotel/motel funds.

The grants will be available to community groups, nonprofits and businesses who want to host an event in the village between May 1, 2025, and April 30, 2026.

To be eligible to receive a grant, an event must not be sponsored by the Village of Lisle. The event must also align with the following criteria from the Special Event Grants Program's mission:

• Provide cultural, recreational and educational enrichment
• Celebrating the community’s unique diversity, history, and heritage
• Offering entertainment opportunities and/or featuring the arts
• Enhancing pride and a sense of community
• Promoting a positive image of the Village
• Advancing economic vitality by drawing residents and visitors to support local dining, shopping, attractions and hotel stays

Pazdan said eligible applications will be evaluated by how well the above criteria are met.

“We are keeping it pretty open-ended as far as the eligibility, however there are some requirements that we have listed in the guidelines," Pazdan told Patch.

The proposal to reenact a Special Events Grant Program first came up at a Sept. 16 village meeting, Pazdan said. The resolution was approved by village trustees on Dec. 2.

According to village documents, Lisle had launched a previous Special Events Grant Program in 2014, which had been approved to use $20,000 in annual funding via the village's General Fund revenue.

In fiscal year 2019-20, recipients were awarded close to $7,000 in grant funds, but the pandemic "interrupted" the program, Pazdan said. That Special Events Grant Program was dissolved in 2021.

“We’re kind of excited to see what the level of interest is and to get some new and expanded events in the village," Pazdan told Patch.

Applications are due March 28, 2025. Click the link to learn more or to apply to the Lisle Special Events Grant Program. Those who would like additional information can email Pazdan at apazdan@villageoflisle.org.