MASS SAVE® SPONSORS AWARD $85,000 IN FUNDING TO FOUR ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH COMMUNITY EDUCATION GRANT

Grants to increase access to energy efficiency education and programming for residents in Environmental Justice Communities

BOSTON, MA (September 7, 2023) – The Sponsors of Mass Save are pleased to announce four new recipients of the Mass Save Community Education Grant. $85,000 in funding will be distributed to the selected nonprofits and neighborhood councils located in Environmental Justice Communities (EJCs) serving Massachusetts residents. Since August 2022, nearly 30 organizations across the Commonwealth have benefited from community education grant funding.

Through education and joint marketing efforts, the Sponsors of Mass Save will engage with these community-based organizations to help them promote energy efficiency programming and opportunities to their communities. The funding, which ranges between $5,000 and $25,000 per year, will support the development of clean energy initiatives to empower residents to reduce their carbon footprints.

“The Sponsors are thrilled to select another cohort of Community Education Grant recipients and support these organizations that are committed to equitably reducing the energy burden in Massachusetts,” said Eversource Director of Residential Energy Efficiency, Kate Peters. “We look forward to working alongside these communities, sharing information and utilizing new outreach approaches to increase awareness and access to programs.

Recipients met the following eligibility requirements in order to be selected for a Community Education Grant.

• Represent one or more of the following criteria: Community-based organizations, non-profits/501(C)(3), groups with a fiscal agent, K-12 agencies, civic associations or neighborhood councils
• Commit to submitting continued progress tracking metrics throughout the three stages of monetary support
• Participate in monthly calls and submit monthly outreach reports
• Establish relevant progress relating to the outlined tactics and goals reflected during the application process
• Propose to focus outreach in Environmental Justice Communities
• Involve customers within the following priority populations: renters, landlords, English-isolated residents, K-12 students, income-eligible individuals

Selected grant recipients may receive:

• Funding that can range from $5,000 to $25,000 per year depending on project proposals (awarded in two cycles) to support project costs
• Mass Save branded collateral to assist in marketing efforts of the grantee
• Assistance in planning local events
• Pre-recorded training sessions by content experts on energy efficiency offerings and best practices
• Access to a utility company account manager to maximize energy efficiency opportunities in municipal buildings

Upon receiving the funding, for one year, all recipients must participate in the annual program progress evaluation and carry out several activities, including: collaborating with participating Mass Save Sponsors and creating innovative strategies and initiatives to engage residents.

The latest recipients of the Mass Save Community Education Grant:

Self-Reliance Corp in North Falmouth, MA

Hamilton-Wenham GREEN, dba: Hamilton Wenham Climate Action Team (HWCAT) in Hamilton, MA

The Greater Mattapan Neighborhood Council in Mattapan, MA

Green Jobs Academy – SMOC in Marlborough, MA

For more information, please visit https://www.masssave.com/en/community/education-grant

About Mass Save®
Mass Save® is a collaborative of Massachusetts’ natural gas and electric utilities and energy efficiency service providers including Berkshire Gas, Cape Light Compact, Eversource, Liberty Utilities, National Grid, and Unitil. We empower residents, businesses, and communities to make energy efficient upgrades by offering a wide range of services, rebates, incentives, trainings, and information.

We respectfully ask that Mass Save is referred to as “the Sponsors of Mass Save,” or “the Mass Save Sponsors,” to reflect the participation of all utility and energy efficiency service providers within the collaborative. For more information, please visit https://www.masssave.com/.