MCE’s Community Partnership Program helps connect people with clean energy programs through the organizations they already know and trust. In 2025, MCE funded local partners to bring program information directly to residents, small businesses, contractors, and community members across our service area.
What the 2025 Program Funded
For the 2025 program year, MCE invited nonprofits, public agencies, and community-based organizations to propose outreach projects that would make MCE programs easier to understand and access. Selected partners could receive up to $30,000 to support outreach in areas like bill savings, small business energy upgrades, workforce pathways, building electrification, clean transportation, and outreach to low-income and underserved communities.
Meet the 2025 Community Partners
MCE awarded $100,000 across six contracts in 2025. Each partner brought deep local relationships and a different way to reach the community.
- Canal Alliance (San Rafael, Marin County) shared bilingual bill savings information, provided one-on-one education, and helped customers enroll in MCE programs.
- North Marin Community Services (Marin County) reached residents through presentations, food pantry engagement, case management, and bilingual materials.
- Stadt Pinole supported workforce outreach, contractor and business education, workshops, and community events.
- San Pablo Economic Development Corporation connected small businesses with MCE’s Small Business Energy Advantage program.
- Vallejo Main Street canvassed local business corridors and promoted small business energy-saving opportunities.
- Solano Economic Development Corporation helped raise awareness of MCE programs through business and community events in Solano County.
What Partners Did
Partners met people where they were: at food pantries, community fairs, workshops, business corridors, case management appointments, and local events. They answered questions, shared materials, explained programs, and helped customers take the next step.
Some partners focused on general education and bill savings. Others focused on small business outreach, workforce development, contractor education, or building electrification. Together, their work made MCE programs more visible, approachable, and actionable.
2025 Results at a Glance
The results show the power of local outreach. In 2025, Community Partnership Program partners helped MCE reach people online, in print, and face to face.
- $100,000 awarded to community partners
- 6 contracts executed
- 79,721 total customers reached
- 4,266 customers reached in person
- 18,651 people reached online
- 58,089 people reached through print outreach
- 1,539 Spanish-language materials distributed
- 31 community events supported
- 12 presentations delivered, including 3 in Spanish
- 90 customers enrolled in MCE programs
Partners also helped expand MCE’s small business and workforce outreach, completing 1,602 small business outreach contacts, generating 51 Small Business Energy Advantage referrals, supporting three installed projects, reaching 500 people through workforce-related outreach, and bringing 70 attendees to workshops.
Why It Worked
The strongest outreach came from trusted messengers. Community partners already had relationships with the people MCE wanted to reach, which made conversations more personal, useful, and effective.
Partners also helped identify what customers need most: simple explanations, clear next steps, bilingual materials, and reassurance that programs can work for renters, immigrant households, small businesses, and others who may not always see themselves reflected in traditional outreach.
The biggest lesson was clear: outreach works best when it is local, practical, and built on trust.
Looking Ahead to 2026
MCE opened the Community Partnership Program again at the end of 2025 for work in the 2026 calendar year. The next round continues with the same goal: helping more customers learn about and benefit from MCE programs through trusted local partners.
MCE selected three partners for 2026 funding, with each organization bringing trusted community relationships and a clear plan to expand outreach.
- Gemeindedienste Nord Marin — Awarded $30,000 to continue their successful work from 2025, specifically engagement through their promotoras program.
- San Pablo EDC — Awarded $12,500 to continue their successful work from calendar year 2025.
- Puertas Abiertas (Napa County) — Awarded $30,000 to conduct community outreach specifically to the Latino community in Napa with a focus on energy efficiency program adoption and bill savings programs through promotoras
MCE also recognized UpValley Family Centers’ (Calistoga, Napa County) strong proposal with a $13,000 sponsorship award to support community outreach for bill savings and general MCE information through promotoras in the Upper Napa Valley region.
We’re excited to share updates about the 2026 program successes in 2027.
