Northglenn to accept $600,000 Doctor COG subaward to boost building‑policy staff, permitting and technical assistance

Northglenn City Council on Sept. 23 gave staff consensus to accept a $600,000 subaward from the Doctor Colorado Council of Governments (Doctor COG) Building Policy Collaborative, aimed at supporting local efforts to decarbonize buildings and expand technical and permitting assistance.

Sustainability Coordinator Mara Owen said the Doctor COG program distributes jurisdictional subawards based on a formula. Northglenn’s allocation places the city in tier 4 and reserves $600,000 for use through 2029. The funds may be used for staff capacity, training and certification, technical assistance, permit and systems support, community engagement directed at building policy, and localized research. Owen said the grant is not competitive for the city’s reserved share and requires no local match for the subaward.

Why it matters: The subaward intends to help cities adopt building policies and build the workforce and permitting infrastructure needed for electrification and energy‑code compliance. Owen said Doctor COG procured several technical assistance vendors in the larger grant, and Northglenn can add work under those contracts, which speeds implementation.

Council direction: Council gave staff consensus to apply to accept the reserved $600,000 and to use the subaward to fund a vacant planner position (reimbursed by grant dollars) plus permit‑system improvements and technical assistance; staff said the award contract will return to council for formal acceptance.

Next steps: Applications for the reserved amount are due Oct. 31; staff will return with a contract and any required council action. Doctor COG will open a second, competitive round in spring 2026 for leftover funds or additional projects.