Regional Air Quality Council staff on Monday gave the board a progress report on multiple outreach and incentive programs and said the council will receive a $1.5 million award from the Non‑Attainment Area Air Pollution Mitigation Enterprise (NAAPME) to expand those efforts.

The update covered new and ongoing programs that aim to reduce mobile‑source emissions. ‘‘We’re hoping to have some bikes hit the road in August,’’ said Kelsey, programs team staff, describing plans to launch two e‑bike libraries in partnership with West Metro Housing and the Denver Housing Authority and to pursue future sites in Adams County and Fort Collins.

Why it matters: the programs are intended to reduce regional emissions by replacing polluting equipment and supporting low‑emission alternatives for small businesses and residents. The NAAPME award was presented as timely support while other agencies face budget constraints and staffing reductions.

Board members heard compact summaries of several program areas. The mower exchange program has held events in Adams County, Commerce City, Northglenn, Thornton and Federal Heights; staff said the program distributed 227 electric mower vouchers and recycled 227 gas mowers. Staff reported funding for 34 landscaping companies this year, and said roughly $120,000 of private support came from Ace Hardware and related partners, while landscaping companies contributed about $379,000 in additional funds. Staff summarized those figures as ‘‘a little over half a million dollars worth of equipment out this year.’’

The council’s ‘‘Engines Off’’ and microgrant work — intended to help mobile businesses such as food trucks retrofit to lower‑emission equipment — has provided more than $500,000 in grants across about 45 projects, staff said. Staff also said they recycled more than 64 gas generators and reported nearly $200,000 in private matching funds for that work.

Clean Air Auto Repair, the council’s program to fix emissions‑related vehicle problems, repaired more than 80 cars so far this year with more than $300,000 invested, staff said. Common repairs included catalytic converters and oxygen sensors; staff noted gas cap faults were a frequent cause of emissions problems.

Board members and staff thanked the programs team for summer outreach and asked staff to share nomination links for the council’s Clean Air Champions awards ceremony, scheduled for Sept. 16 at the Denver Performing Arts Center. Kelsey said invitations and a nomination link would be circulated to board members.

Action and funding context: staff told the board that the NAAPME (a CDOT‑administered nonattainment mitigation enterprise) selected RAC’s application earlier this year and approved a $1,500,000 award to support RAC programs. Staff framed the award as enabling expansion of programs beyond the Denver metro area into other nonattainment counties beginning in 2026.

Staff said they will continue fundraising and seek partners to scale the programs and bring lessons learned to new jurisdictions. Board members encouraged continued outreach and cross‑agency coordination to ensure implementing partners and affected businesses are aware of opportunities.

Ending: Staff asked board members to forward nominations for Clean Air Champions and said more program details and outreach materials would be circulated ahead of the fall event.