The City of Boulder has selected nonprofit organizations to participate in its Community Resilience Hub Pilot Program.

The program will help organizations prepare for extended power outages by exploring battery backup systems that can keep critical community services running. Through the pilot, the city will test which resources and program models work best and begin building a network of resilience hubs that can support the community during Public Safety Power Shutoffs and other climate-related emergencies.

Working with Boulder County’s Partners for a Clean Environment, the city will help selected nonprofits evaluate energy resilience options and navigate the process of designing and implementing a system to meet their needs. After participants determine the technical and financial feasibility of their projects, they will be eligible to receive up to $50,000 in grant funds towards the purchase and installation of a battery or battery-plus-solar backup system.

“The commitment to community resilience from our nonprofits is truly inspiring,” said Carolyn Elam, Sustainability Senior Manager with the City of Boulder. “Each brought a unique perspective on how best to serve those impacted during disaster and power disruption. We are excited to learn from these organizations and those they serve on how best to support our community with programs and services.”

Selected projects include:

Boulder Housing Partners Hawthorn-Diagonal Neighborhood Resilience Hub: Provide a safe, powered gathering location for device and medical equipment charging, internet and phone access and food storage serving residents in the Hawthorn and Diagonal Court neighborhoods.

Harvest of Hope Food Pantry: Maintain critical refrigeration, freezer and building operations during outages, preventing food waste, protecting donated community resources and ensuring that the pantry remains open and to assist those impacted by extended power disruption with food replacement.

All Roads Shelter: Maintain emergency shelter and housing-focused services for unhoused adults.

Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA): Maintain critical operations during power disruption, including food storage, safety-net services and transitional housing.

Center for People With Disabilities: Maintain ongoing services and provide a safe, powered location for individuals of all ages across all disability types impacted by power disruptions.

Presbyterian Manor: Enhance resilience for critical affordable senior housing, including providing food storage and power for durable medical equipment for residents of this 11-story housing facility.

Additionally, the city selected several projects that will receive advising services to further develop their resilience strategy and receive portable battery equipment for refrigeration needs. Selected projects include:

Community United Church of Christ: Provide safe sheltering and food storage for community members impacted by power disruption.

Congregation Nevei Kodesh: Provide safe sheltering and food storage for community members impacted by power disruption.

Humane Society of Boulder County: Provide safe preservation of medications for shelter animals, including those displaced during emergencies and disasters.

Boulder Collective: Advance patient safety and medication storage.

Clinica Family Health and Wellness: Provide for safe preservation of medications.

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