Four years after launching in response to the COVID-19 crisis, an energy relief program has proven to be a quiet yet powerful lifeline for small businesses in Southern Colorado. Since March 2021, the Black Hills Small Business Electric Assistance Program, supported by the Pueblo Latino Chamber of Commerce, has helped more than 80 businesses pay down their electricity bills — disbursing over $80,000 in funding to date.
The initiative was born out of necessity during the early days of the pandemic, when widespread closures, supply chain disruptions and loss of revenue hit small businesses particularly hard. “The program was first discussed in 2020 as a way to help businesses during COVID,” says Noah Commerford, the Chamber’s president and CEO. “We officially launched at the end of March 2021.”
Funded by Black Hills Energy and administered by the chamber, the program was designed to provide targeted relief. Due to regulatory constraints, the funds were not distributed directly by the utility company; instead, Black Hills partnered with the chamber to manage and disburse grants on its behalf. “Black Hills paid us $90,000, and we used that to assist small businesses struggling with their electric bills,” Commerford says.
The criteria for participation evolved over time but initially focused on three core requirements:
Applicants had to be Black Hills Energy electric customers.
They needed to demonstrate a COVID-related hardship (e.g., revenue decline, increased costs, forced closure).
They had to have an outstanding electric bill balance.
Approved businesses could receive up to $1,300, later reduced to $1,000 to accommodate more applicants. “The funding never actually went to the businesses directly,” Commerford explains. “It was applied to their electric account with Black Hills, helping prevent service interruptions.” The streamlined process required documentation, a disclosure form for account verification and proof of outstanding balances.
As the program matured, so did its focus. By removing the requirement to show pandemic-specific hardship and lowering the grant maximum, the chamber aimed to support a broader base of small businesses — particularly those on the brink of disconnection due to modest but critical utility bills. “We’re really targeting businesses where even a small grant could mean the difference between keeping the lights on or not,” says Commerford.
One success story is Pueblo’s beloved Pass Key Restaurants — a multi-location, family-owned business with deep roots in the community. “They were paying $2,000 a month in electricity across their locations,” Commerford says. “They didn’t have drive-thrus during COVID, and indoor dining was limited. This support helped them get through it.”
Each of Pass Key’s three Pueblo locations qualified for funding, helping the business continue operating amid shutdowns and staffing shortages. Today, they remain open and busy, a testament to the program’s support.
Interestingly, a significant majority — approximately 70% — of grant recipients were not chamber members. “We wanted to help as many businesses as possible, not just our members,” he says. “Many of them didn’t even know what the Chamber of Commerce does.”
There’s also been some confusion about whether home-based businesses or residential accounts qualify. Only commercial electric accounts are eligible for this specific relief program. The Chamber does offer additional programs and resources for residential businesses and other community members.
While the program still has funds available in 2025, it may not be sustainable long term. “It’s not likely to continue unless another round of funding becomes available. But there is interest in future programs, maybe microgrants or business security initiatives,” says Commerford.
Despite an uncertain future, the legacy of this initiative is clear: dozens of small businesses kept their doors open because of it. “We still have funds left, so we can still have a huge impact for the rest of the year,” he says.
For any business owner still unsure about eligibility or who may not know about the program, the chamber encourages reaching out directly.
“Sometimes people just don’t know we’re here,” he says. “They assume they need to be a member or have a big business. That’s not true. If you’ve got an electric bill and need help, we’re here!”
