Community First Partnership

Empowering communities through energy efficiency and electrification
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Energy bills 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 bills, 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 renters, landlords, low-to-moderate income households, language-isolated households, and small businesses in participating communities.

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The Sponsors of Mass Save provide funding, resources, trainings, 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 $85,000 per year to support an Energy Advocate* and local marketing efforts
  • Comprehensive training on energy efficiency and electrification
  • Support from energy efficiency and electrification experts
  • 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
  • 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.

 

In 2022-2023:

  • 52 Communities have benefited from local, community-led outreach
  • The 26 Community First Partners supporting these 52 communities helped achieve:
      • ○ 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 72,716 Home Energy Assessments

Current Community First Partners:

The following Community First Partners, comprised of municipalities and community-based organizations, are currently participating in the 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


Municipalities and registered 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6) non-profit organizations (or those with a fiscal agent), as well as teams of municipalities and/or registered non-profit organizations, are eligible to apply.

Applicants may apply individually or as a team; no more than three (3) communities may be included in a single application.


Additional program requirements for 2025-2027 include:

  • Commitment to a 3-year participation in the program
  • Commitment to hiring/employing an Energy Advocate dedicated to this effort for at least 19 hours/week or full-time (to be specified in your application).
  • Commitment to focus outreach to at least two of the following priority populations: renters/landlords, low- and moderate-income residents*, English-isolated residents, and/or small businesses
  • Participation in bi-weekly meetings
  • Participation in training throughout the year
  • Tracking and reporting progress via monthly, quarterly, and annual reports
  • Openness to building partnerships with local community organizations or municipalities
  • Submission of all outreach materials for approval prior to use

*Low-to-moderate income households are those with annual household incomes at or below 80% of the state or area median income (whichever is higher).


Thank you for your interest in the Community First Partnership. The application for the 2025-2027 Partnership will be opening this summer.

If you would like to be notified when it is available, please fill out the Community First Partnership Form.