On November 1, 2023 we held a webinar on Planning for EV Readiness and Community Resiliency: CivicSpark and the City of Grand Junction, Colorado. We were joined by City of Grand Junction Sustainability Coordinator Jenny Nitzky and CivicSpark Fellow Darin Graber. The event was moderated by CivicSpark Deputy Director Justin Brosseau.

Grand Junction is the largest city on Colorado’s Western Slope, located halfway between Salt Lake City and Denver. The City sits at the confluence of the Colorado and Gunnison Rivers and at the meeting of I-70 and US Highways 6 and 50. This location makes the City unique geographically and economically, with a large tourism base. A unique challenge of the Grand Junction Sustainability team is identifying how this rapidly changing community can hold onto its small-town, rural, agricultural identity while also providing opportunities for younger generations to live, work, and play in ways that don’t harm the natural environment.

CivicSpark Fellow Darin Graber has served in the City of Grand Junction, Colorado since January 2023. As part of the sustainability team, Darin has supported efforts including an Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan, the development of the city’s first Resiliency and Sustainability Plan, and the coordination of the LEED for Cities Certification project. In this webinar Darin and his site supervisor, City of Grand Junction Sustainability Coordinator Jenny Nitzky, will discuss successes and challenges faced in these projects and tips for how local governments can leverage the CivicSpark Fellowship to advance their sustainability efforts.

Watching this event recording will be beneficial to anyone interested in local electric vehicle infrastructure planning, sustainability plans, data collection for green certifications, and generally working within communities that have a hesitancy towards change.

Watch the Recording