For more than five decades, Mountain Valley Developmental Services (MVDS) has worked to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Garfield, Pitkin, Eagle, and Lake Counties in Colorado. Since 1973, the organization has helped individuals achieve greater independence through learning, employment, and community living.
MVDS’s efforts recently received a $25,000 Community Giving Grant from Black Hills Energy. The funds are directed toward the Cozy Home Project, which aims to improve comfort and safety for residents of MVDS’s housing. “We are so excited to be receiving this grant award from Black Hills Energy,” said Sara Sims, Executive Director of MVDS.
The first phase of the project is focused on the Oakhurst House in Glenwood Springs. Built in 1974, Oakhurst is the oldest of MVDS’s ten group homes and provides housing for adults who rely on stable and supportive environments. The grant will allow MVDS to replace 18 single-pane windows with new Low-E glass windows that help reflect heat and increase energy efficiency. These upgrades are expected to make the home more sustainable while improving daily life for its residents.
“I wouldn’t say that raising money to maintain houses is necessarily the flashiest, but it’s necessary,” said Maura Masters, Developmental Director at MVDS. “How we measure that is by our participants’ smiling faces and their ability to live at ease in their homes, so Cozy Home will spruce up the different places they live.”
The Cozy Home Project is part of a larger effort by MVDS to provide residential enrichment as well as employment opportunities and early intervention programs for children and adults. Partnerships with local organizations play an important role in these initiatives. Alongside Black Hills Energy, other supporters include Clear Energy Economy for the Region, Rotary Club of Glenwood Springs, Defiance Thrift Stores, and over 50 businesses throughout the valley.
These collaborations connect individuals served by MVDS with meaningful jobs while encouraging employers to participate actively in building inclusive communities. According to MVDS representatives, those supported by their services contribute significantly to the regional workforce.
At its core, organizers say that projects like Cozy Home are about more than infrastructure improvements—they aim to ensure people with intellectual and developmental disabilities can live confidently within their communities.
“Community support, involvement and shared responsibility are key to MVDS’s mission, and Black Hills Energy is proud to be a part of making the Cozy Home Project a success.”
