Sept. 16, 2026
Aurora, Colo. – Today, the Colorado Pay It Forward Fund announced a new partnership and $500,000 investment in the Community College of Aurora (CCA). Students enrolled in CCA BuildStrong Academy will have access to zero-interest loans provided by the fund, helping them cover living expenses while in training.
The $4,000 personal loans can be used for expenses such as housing, transportation, childcare and groceries, helping students remain focused on completing their training and preparing to enter the workforce. Unlike traditional student loans Colorado Pay It Forward Fund loans have low barriers to qualify, reasonable terms, and are offered specifically to students in workforce training.
The funding is expected to support approximately 160 CCA BuildStrong Academy students and expand access to training for individuals who may face financial barriers, including housing insecurity and challenges experienced by justice-involved individuals.
We’re so grateful to receive this investment from Pay it Forward,
said CCA’s Dean of Workforce Allison Stepnitz. This innovative funding option gives CCA BuildStrong Academy students greater financial flexibility while they train, helping reduce some of the common stressors that come with being underemployed or unemployed. By removing financial barriers, students can focus on building the skills they need for high-paying, rewarding careers while helping meet growing workforce demand.
The investment comes as Colorado faces a shortage of more than 30,000 skilled construction workers, with demand projected to grow 32% by 2030. The loans will support approximately 160 CCA BuildStrong Academy students entering the field. CCA BuildStrong Academy equips students with the skills needed to enter the workforce at no cost through hands-on training, career coaching, and job placement support.
This marks the Colorado Pay It Forward Fund’s first partnership with a Colorado community college, made possible by CCA BuildStrong Academy integrating into the college as an official program. As part of this transition, BuildStrong is adapting its programming to meet new Workforce Pell eligibility requirements, supporting the program’s long-term growth and sustainability.
The Colorado Pay It Forward Fund is an initiative of the national nonprofit Social Finance and other Colorado philanthropic partners. The Fund also recently invested in FreeWorld, a Colorado nonprofit that trains justice-involved individuals for living-wage trucking careers.
FreeWorld and CCA BuildStrong Academy have each built models that work: they meet people where they are, remove obstacles, and get people into good jobs,
said Andrew Chen, Vice President of Impact Investments at Social Finance. We’re proud to back both of them and help Coloradans access economic opportunity.
The Fund’s financing model is designed to protect learners: borrowers who are not earning above a minimum income threshold may apply for income-based deferment, during which their monthly payment obligation is $0. Repayments are reinvested back into the Fund to allow more learners to benefit. These zero-interest loans are originated by Richland State Bank, an FDIC member, through its partner platform Ascent Funding, LLC.
For CCA, the partnership represents another step toward reducing barriers between education and employment while responding to Colorado’s growing workforce needs. By pairing no-cost, career-focused training with additional financial support for students, CCA BuildStrong Academy is helping more Coloradans access the skills, resources and opportunities needed to move into sustainable careers.
About Social Finance
Social Finance is a national nonprofit and registered investment adviser. We bring government, philanthropy, and business leaders together to put capital to work in new ways to improve systems and expand opportunity. We build, test, and scale new models that are accountable for results. Since our founding in 2011, we have mobilized more than $500 million in investments to create positive outcomes in workforce and education, health, and housing.
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]