Host: City of Grand Junction
Region: Colorado
Openings: 1
Project Focus: Climate Adaptation, Climate Mitigation, Ecosystem / Habitat Conservation, Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, Transportation / Mobility, Urban Planning, Waste Management, Water Management
Skills Needed: Community Engagement, Project Management, Data Analysis, Stakeholder Engagement, Communication, Self-Motivated

Service Needs & Plans

This project will help to build capacity within the City of Grand Junction’s Sustainability Division. As a new division which started with the hiring of their first Sustainability Coordinator in mid 2022, this fellow’s work will help to strengthen the roots of sustainability in City and community operations. The projects will focus on a variety of topics in environmental and social sustainability interfacing with city staff and external stakeholders. These projects will address holistic sustainability issues including the just energy transition, alternative transportation, and helping with waste reduction and diversion, among other topics.

Project Description

Resiliency and Sustainability Plan Community Engagement
1. Create a baseline of data and work with the community to develop strategies that address climate resilience and sustainability.
2. Support the City’s Sustainability Coordinator in engagement and outreach events for the planning process. Help to ensure that there is an equitable distribution of ideas and voices present in different outreach events.
project.
3. Final plan adoption by City Council.
4. Improve city’s sustainability with clear actionable strategies.

EV Roadmap Implementation
1. Work with Sustainability Coordinator, other city staff, and Partners in Energy to prioritize implementation of certain strategic actions from the EV Roadmap.
2. Help staff and consultants with community outreach projects and incentive programs.
3. Increase in EV adoption by city fleet, residents, and increase in charging stations in city limits.
4. Enables city to seek funding and evaluate regulations for city-wide infrastructure. By helping to increase adoption in the city, the sustainability division will have an increased impact on the community’s resilience to climate change, volatile gas prices, and affordable clean transportation.

Desired Skills

A good communicator, skilled writer, ability to track and analyze data,
ability to work both with broad concepts and fine detail. Well-organized,
self-directed learner, basic understanding of government and
sustainability issues.

Organization & Community Highlights

Grand Junction is the largest city between Salt Lake and Denver along the
I-70 corridor. It has great access to the outdoors and also provides many
urban amenities such as arts, music, and dining. It is the home to
Colorado Mesa University that hosts approximately 10,000 students
during the school year.
The City of Grand Junction is an open and transparent government enjoys
a professional, hardworking staff dedicated to public service and
improving the lives of its residents. The city has invested in outreach and engagement staff and is
focused on providing an accessible and inclusive government for and by
the people. Grand Junction is also at a pivotal point in its history as more people are
recognizing the high quality of life the area enjoys as well the lower cost of living compared to many great Colorado cities. The City has invested significantly in recent years in the city’s waterfront, downtown, parks and recreational amenities, and many say the city is at a key transition point.

The City of Grand Junction’s thriving community is increasingly committed to environmental and social justice. In the 2020 Comprehensive Plan Resource Stewardship was one of the main priorities for the City, as were Housing and Mobility. The City is committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace through, among other aspects, these new divisions. Sustainability is becoming part of the work the City does both internally and externally, changing workplace cultures and community habits. Working for the City in this capacity will allow a fellow to see the inner workings of local government and identify areas of sustainability work that may interest them in their careers. From policy work to public outreach and engagement, this division’s work constantly changes and provides real experiences that create visible change within the community where we all work and live. Since the Sustainability Division is so new, fellows play a part in shaping projects from ideation all the way to implementation.

Remote or On-Site Placement

On-site