Connecticut Green Bank – Cole Burnham – 2025
Summary
Cole Burnham identified and developed relationships with key stakeholders to inform future outreach strategies and build new partnership opportunities.
Goals
The Connecticut Green Bank’s Marketing and Outreach Team is essential for the development and maintenance of stakeholder relationships, as well as the distribution of information related to Green Bank products and services. With many key groups unfamiliar with the Green Bank’s expanded scope and having limited connections to the organization, Cole was enlisted to spearhead engagement efforts and identify opportunities to improve the Green Bank’s outreach strategy.
Solutions
To develop essential stakeholder relationships, Cole:
Designed and distributed two unique surveys to Connecticut’s municipalities and Councils of Government (COGs) to understand their familiarity with the Green Bank, perspectives and priorities related to Green Bank offerings, communication preferences, and willingness to partner on initiatives
Hosted one-on-one meetings with municipal and COG staff to measure understanding and sentiment towards the Green Bank, identify opportunities for collaboration and further relationship development, and to understand current internal priorities
Analyzed survey and meeting data to determine communication preferences, identify points of contact, describe awareness and understanding, and develop other insights that will inform the Green Bank’s outreach strategy
To streamline information distribution, Cole:
Partnered with COG staff to develop a “Workshop Menu” highlighting collaboration opportunities, high-level overviews of Green Bank products, and a schedule for informational stakeholder presentations
Potential Impact
Between June and August, 40 new contacts were established and their respective survey responses analyzed. From the 40 relationships, 13 municipalities and all 9 Councils of Government were represented, highlighting a wide range of perspectives from across the state. As a result, the Marketing & Outreach Team better understands general communication preferences, areas requiring additional information distribution, and steps for deeper engagement with underserved communities. The knowledge gathered will drive the organization’s outreach strategy and support deployment of the Green Bank’s offerings through municipal and COG partnerships.
