The food pantry assistance grant program is set to repeal on June
30, 2023. The bill extends the food pantry assistance grant program through July 1, 2028.
For the 2022-23 state fiscal year, the bill appropriates $5 million
from the general fund. For the 2023-24 state fiscal year, the bill appropriates $3.5 million from the general fund. For the 2024-25 state
fiscal year through the 2026-27 state fiscal year, the bill appropriates $2 million annually from the general fund to be used only for the purchase of Colorado agricultural products; agricultural products that hold cultural significance for indigenous first nations people, or for other cultures or subcultural groups, including the ways in which those agricultural products are produced; agricultural products sold by agricultural producers located within 400 miles of the grant recipient; agricultural products sold by indigenous first nations producers located within Colorado and in neighboring states; and technical assistance.
The bill allows up to $100,000 annually of the appropriation to be
used to hire a nonprofit entity to provide technical assistance to a grant recipient to train food pantries and assist in the location and purchase of Colorado agricultural products. The bill also allows a grant recipient to pre-purchase Colorado agricultural products.
