Community Engagement

A woman at a table explaining the program to people at the event

Community Engagement Grants are open!

The purpose of this grant program is to fund trusted community-based organizations that will conduct outreach to support the Power Ahead Colorado mission to power better homes, stronger communities, and quality jobs for Colorado’s clean and healthy future, specifically to:

Foster education and awareness among the public related to heat pumps, home and building electrification, efficiency, and related topics 
Support Power Ahead Colorado workforce development programs (especially in disproportionately impacted communities) 
Drive awareness of Power Ahead Colorado’s rebates and incentives (for homeowners, especially middle-income) for heat pump installation

Learn more about Community Engagement Grants

The Power Ahead Colorado team with a tent and table at an event

Goals

Power Ahead Colorado’s Community Engagement is designed to connect with a broad, representative mix of community members and other partners, with a focus on disproportionately impacted communities and practical-minded homeowners. The goal is to ensure that diverse perspectives are heard and reflected throughout the process and that program opportunities and resources are accessible across diverse communities. Engagement strategies will be informed by a Community Advisory Group and supported by grant funding to local organizations.

As a multi-year initiative, Power Ahead Colorado is committed to continuous learning. Feedback gathered through engagement will be used to refine and improve the approach over time, ensuring it remains responsive, effective, and aligned with community needs.

A map of the DRCOG area highlighted in blue including Boulder, Broomfield, Gilpin, Clear Creek, Jefferson, Denver, Adams, Arapaho, Douglas, and a portion of Weld County

Guiding Principles

Context-Driven Engagement: Meet communities where they are, recognizing differing capacities, priorities, and existing relationships. Build on prior work and coordinate with parallel efforts to focus resources where they’re most needed.
Radical Transparency: Communicate clearly and openly using plain language. Be explicit about decisions and processes and how input will be used, while protecting sensitive information where needed to maintain trust.
Human-Centered Approach: Prioritize relationships over transactions, lead with warmth, and assume good intentions. Design engagement to be welcoming, respectful of time and energy, and as accessible and informal as requirements allow.
Commitment to Excellence: Deliver high-quality, thoughtful engagement. Apply best practices consistently, knowing that small-scale approaches shape broader outcomes.
Continuous Learning and Adaptation: Stay flexible and humble. Incorporate feedback, adjust when things aren’t working, and commit to ongoing learning and trust-building.
Community Expertise as Authority: Center and trust community knowledge. Support communities in defining their own priorities and accessing resources that align with their goals as well as Power Ahead Colorado’s.