Community First Partnership

Empowering communities through energy efficiency and electrification
People around an information table

Energy costs can be a significant burden for some Massachusetts families and small businesses, disproportionately affecting residents of Environmental Justice Communities. Energy efficiency solutions can reduce energy use, improve indoor air quality, and create a more comfortable home or business.


The Community First Partnership leverages the local knowledge and trusted relationships of municipalities and community-based organizations to increase participation in Mass Save energy efficiency programs. This initiative drives participation among the priority customer groups of renters, landlords, low- and moderate-income households, customers who speak languages other than English, and small businesses in participating communities.


Watch the recording of the 2025-2027 Mass Save® Community First Partnership Overview Webinar.

The Sponsors of Mass Save provide funding, resources, training, and support to participating municipalities and local community-based organizations to increase participation in the Mass Save programs. This includes funding and support to hire a full- or part-time Energy Advocate and implement outreach campaigns in their community.


Selected 2025–2027 applicants may receive:

  • Up to $85,500 per year in funding to support energy efficiency awareness and program participation. Of this, up to $83,000 may be used to pay an Energy Advocate* and up to $2,500 may be used for local outreach efforts
  • Turnkey mailer campaigns (e.g. letters, bill inserts) designed, printed, and mailed by the Sponsors, and select tabling materials (e.g. tabling displays, swag/giveaways) designed and provided by the Sponsors, both at no cost
  • Comprehensive training on available Mass Save energy efficiency and electrification solutions
  • Support from subject matter experts on energy efficiency and electrification
  • A community-focused, multilingual automated phone line and webpage on MassSave.com guiding residents and small businesses to sign up for Mass Save programs
  • Co-branded multilingual marketing materials
  • Monthly progress reports on customer participation
  • Data sharing with Program Sponsors and delivery partners (subject to availability and data sharing agreements) to support outreach and tracking efforts
  • Coaching and best practices to encourage program participation
  • Customer support
  • Local event support
  • The opportunity to share feedback to continually strengthen the Partnership and the Mass Save programs

*Energy Advocate may be full-time or part-time and the award amount will be adjusted accordingly. The 2025 award amount will be prorated based on the hire date of the Energy Advocate.

 

In 2022–2023:

  • 52 Communities have benefited from local, community-led outreach
  • The 26 Community First Partners supporting these 52 communities helped achieve:
    1. ○ 72,716 Home Energy Assessments
      ○ 18,112 residential weatherization upgrades
      ○ 20,887 home heating and cooling upgrades
      ○ 2,709 small business energy efficiency upgrades

  • Community First Partners received up to $60,000 in funding annually for up to three years, as well as in-kind marketing and technical support

Current Community First Partners:

The following Community First Partners, comprised of municipalities and community-based organizations, are currently participating in the 2022–2024 Community First Partnership:

  • Arlington
  • Berkshire County Regional Planning Commission (in Adams, Great Barrington, Lanesborough, Lee, North Adams, and Williamstown)
  • Beverly and Salem
  • Boston
  • Cambridge
  • Cape Verdean Association (in Brockton)
  • Chelsea, Winthrop, and Revere
  • Clean Water Fund (in Attleboro, Fall River, New Bedford, Taunton, and Westport)
  • Ener-G-Save (in Springfield, Pittsfield, West Springfield)
  • Everett
  • Framingham and Natick
  • Gloucester
  • Groundwork Lawrence (in Andover, Haverhill, Lawrence, Methuen, and North Andover)
  • Lowell
  • Malden
  • Melrose
  • Norwood, Sharon, and Walpole
  • Quincy Asian Resources Inc (in Quincy and Randolph)
  • Shelburne
  • Swampscott and Lynn
  • Vineyard Power (in Aquinnah, Chilmark, Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury, and West Tisbury)
  • Watertown
  • Westborough
  • Worcester