Sept. 2, 2026
Aurora, Colo. – The Commerce City Promise program received a 2026 Metro Vision Award from the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG). The program is a partnership between the Community College of Aurora (CCA) and Commerce City that provides no-cost access to short-term credential programs for all Commerce City residents.
DRCOG recognized Commerce City Promise during its Aug. 26 awards celebration, honoring the partnership for its innovative approach to expanding educational access and creating pathways to economic opportunity for Commerce City residents.
Video courtesy of the DRCOG Metro Vision Awards
The Metro Vision Award recognizes excellence, innovation, collaboration and leadership in addressing challenges and creating positive change throughout the Denver region. The Commerce City Promise program was recognized as an example of what communities can achieve when education, government and regional partners work together around a shared vision.
Commerce City Promise was created to give Commerce City residents no-cost access to short-term, high-value credentials that lead directly to in-demand careers in fields such as healthcare, construction, information technology, and skilled trades,
said Clair Collins, CCA’s Vice President of Enrollment Success & Completion. We are grateful to DRCOG for recognizing a partnership that removes financial barriers while connecting residents to real economic opportunities, and we are especially proud of the students who have taken that opportunity and turned it into a new career pathway.
The recognition is the latest in a series of honors highlighting the impact of the Commerce City Promise. Earlier this year at the 2026 Commerce City Business Appreciation Awards, CCA and Rocky Mountain Partnership received the City’s Economic Development Award for Leadership for their collaboration on Commerce City Promise. The program also recently earned Commerce City a 2026 Excellence in Economic Development Silver Award from the International Economic Development Council. Together, the local, regional and international recognition underscores the program’s impact and the strength of the partnerships behind it.
As a city, we know that our greatest asset is our people. When we invest in them, we strengthen not only their opportunities for career advancement, but the entire community,
said Commerce City Manager Jason Rogers. The Commerce City Promise program creates a pathway for residents to earn the certificates and credentials they need to advance in their careers and build a brighter future. We are honored to receive this award, but even more proud to see the real difference this program is making in the lives of our residents and our community.
The program took shape after Rocky Mountain Partnership brought CCA and Commerce City together to align partners and facilitate early conversations about the program. The city launched the program as part of the Advancing Commerce City Together initiative with funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act.
Today, CCA and Commerce City have connected over 100 residents with education and training opportunities that support their career goals and meet workforce needs. Through short-term credential programs, participants develop skills for in-demand industries while reducing one of the most significant barriers to pursuing education: cost.
The Metro Vision Award reinforces Commerce City Promise as a model for what is possible when higher education, local government and community partners align resources around the needs of residents. By reducing financial barriers to education and connecting residents with skills for in-demand careers, CCA and Commerce City are creating pathways to economic mobility while helping build the skilled workforce needed to support the region’s future.
About the Community College of Aurora
The Community College of Aurora (CCA) provides high-quality instruction and student support services to Aurora, Centennial, and Denver, Colorado. With a vision to aspire to be a college where every student succeeds, CCA is the most diverse college in the State of Colorado. Focused on creating social and economic mobility for its students, the college offers courses on three campuses, online, and through its high school concurrent enrollment programs. For more information, visit www.ccaurora.edu.
Contact
Courtney Butler
Executive Director of Strategic Communications and Special Initiatives
Strategic Communications and Alumni Engagement
P: 303-340-7201 | E: [email protected]