Today’s electric kitchen equipment delivers the high performance that commercial kitchens demand. They also improve air quality, lower heat in the kitchen, and cut down on upkeep. Equipment like induction cooktops, electric griddles, efficient fryers, and combi ovens create safer, more comfortable kitchens for staff. They also help protect the environment.
PACE can help Boulder County businesses switch from gas to electric cooking equipment. Our advisors offer free advice. They help you find options and compare choices. They can also connect you with rebates and incentives. And they help you plan upgrades that fit your budget and your needs.
PACE also offers a $5,000 rebate for electric infrastructure in addition to the Kitchen Electrification Grant below. This rebate can help cover the cost of upgrades needed to install electric equipment. This includes running 220V cable from a panel to new equipment. It can also cover panel upgrades.
If you are redesigning your kitchen, adding new equipment, or moving to a new place – why not electrify while you’re at it? PACE can help. Contact us at info@pacepartners.com to learn about resources and incentives.
PACE Kitchen Electrification Grant
PACE offers a grant to help businesses replace gas‑powered equipment with clean, electric models. The grant lowers common barriers, like high upfront costs and complex steps. This means your business can get efficient equipment and support Boulder County’s sustainability goals.
The grant pays 70% of the cost of new equipment before tax and covers all delivery and installation costs, up to $10,000.
Participating businesses pay 30% of the equipment cost and all sales tax on the purchase.
Grant Requirements
The Kitchen Electrification Grant is available to Boulder County business owners who meet all of the following requirements:
- Owner lives in Colorado
- Business is located in Boulder County
- Business has been in operation for a minimum of two years
- Owner manages and/or works day-to-day operations and makes long-term decisions
- Business pays utility bill
- Total operating square footage is 2,500 square feet or less
- Existing equipment was manufactured in 2009 or earlier
- Minority-owned businesses are highly encouraged to apply
Please fill out the interest form below even if you don’t meet all the requirements. Our advisors will talk with you to see if your business’s needs and situation qualify for an exception.
The Boulder County Sustainability Tax and the City of Boulder’s Climate Tax fund PACE grants. We give grants in the order we receive applications, as long as funding continues to be available.
Eligible Equipment
The following equipment types are included in the grant:
- Combi ovens
- Cooktops and griddles
- Fryers and steamers
- Warming tables
Costs associated with electrical work will not be covered in the grant, but businesses can apply for PACE’s Electric Infrastructure Upgrade rebate.
If you’re looking to replace aging refrigerators, dishwashers, and ice machines with more energy-efficient models, check out our Kitchen Efficiency Grant.
If you are interested in equipment that is not listed above, please fill out the interest form. A PACE advisor will talk with you about your project. They will see if it qualifies for an exception.
As part of the grant, you cannot keep or reuse your old equipment. PACE’s distributor will remove it and dispose of it properly.
Application Process
- Apply: Begin the process by completing an application. Click the button below to get started!
- Eligibility: A PACE advisor will reach out to you to verify that your existing equipment meets the eligibility requirements.
- Assessment: Your PACE advisor will meet you onsite to look at equipment and discuss replacement options.
- Quote: Your PACE advisor will provide an equipment quote detailing the amount covered by the grant and the cost you would be responsible for.
- Agreement: If you decide to replace the equipment, your PACE advisor will help you complete the funding agreement.
- Equipment Ordered: After reviewing your submitted agreement, PACE will reserve funding for the project. The distributor for this program will order the equipment.
- Delivery, Installation, and Payment: Our distributor will contact you to schedule the delivery and installation of your new equipment. They will also coordinate the removal and proper disposal of your old equipment. You will pay your portion of the new equipment to the distributor upon delivery, and PACE will pay them directly for the grant portion.
- Ownership and Maintenance: Once the equipment has been installed, you own the new equipment and are responsible for ongoing maintenance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Yes! Please apply for the grant even if you do not meet each of the requirements. PACE will work with you to make an exception or complete a custom project if possible. Please include as much information as you can in the interest form. A PACE advisor will be in touch with you to learn more.
Most electric utilities in Boulder County have a goal to cut emissions by 80% by 2030. These utilities include Xcel Energy, Platte River Power Authority, and Tri-State. The City of Boulder, the City of Longmont, and the Town of Nederland plan to use 100% clean power by 2030.
As the grid gets cleaner, switching from gas to electric equipment will cut more emissions. This includes griddles, stoves, and ovens.
Electric equipment also provides other benefits, including:
- Increased safety and comfort
- More precise cooking
- Faster cooking times
- Reduced maintenance
PACE’s distributor offers many equipment options. If your business needs a style or brand that our distributor doesn’t carry, PACE can still help. You can buy equipment from a seller of your choice. PACE will then pay you back for its portion of the cost. You must get PACE’s approval before you order the equipment. Please complete the interest form. Then talk with your PACE advisor about your business needs.
Additional limits and requirements include:
- Grant funding from PACE is capped at $10,000 per business annually.
- The total of all incentives (PACE Restaurant Equipment Grant, utility rebates, etc.) cannot exceed 70% of total equipment costs unless authorized by PACE.
- This grant cannot be combined with PACE rebates.
- As part of the grant application process, you will need to complete a beneficiary agreement. Your PACE advisor will support you through this process.
If you have any questions, please reach out to us at 303-786-7223 or info@PACEpartners.com.
Community Highlight
When Graham and Emily Smith opened SoupSmith inside Louisville’s Relish Food Hall, they knew they wanted an all-electric kitchen from the start. After dealing with outdated gas equipment at their first location, they worked with PACE to install high-efficiency electric cooking equipment including induction soup wells, convection ovens, induction cooktops, and a steam kettle. “We never could have made the switch without PACE,” says Graham Smith. “It was so easy.”
The benefits were immediate. Their new induction equipment heats soup quickly, keeps temperatures consistent, and allows staff to cook right in front of customers without excess heat or emissions. “It’s changed everything,” says Smith. “We can talk with customers, let them smell what’s cooking, and create a better experience.” For the Smiths, going electric was about more than efficiency — it also improved safety, comfort, and indoor air quality for both staff and guests.
