C.R.S.
Section 26-2-139
Food pantry assistance grant program
- created
- timeline and criteria
- grants
- definitions
- repeal
(1)
As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:(a)
“Colorado agricultural products” means all fruits, vegetables, grains, meats, and dairy products, grown or raised in Colorado, and minimally processed products or value-added processed products that meet the standards for the Colorado proud designation established by the state department of agriculture.(b)
Intentionally left blank —Ed.(I)
“Eligible entity” means, for the purposes of a food pantry assistance grant, either a food bank or food pantry.(II)
“Eligible entity”, for the purposes of a food pantry assistance grant, includes a faith-based organization.(c)
“Food bank” means a charitable organization, exempt from federal income taxation under the provisions of the internal revenue code, that acquires and distributes food and nonfood essentials to other hunger relief programs.(d)
“Food pantry” means an individual site that buys food or receives donations of foods that are then directly distributed to those in its community.(e)
“Grant program” means the food pantry assistance grant program created in subsection (2) of this section.(f)
“State department” means the state department of human services.(2)
There is created in the state department the food pantry assistance grant program. The purpose of the grant program is to aid Colorado food pantries and food banks in the purchase of foods that better meet the needs of their clientele, which has expanded significantly as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency.(3)
Intentionally left blank —Ed.(a)
The state department may contract with a third-party vendor to solicit, vet, award, and monitor grants. The selection of any vendor pursuant to this subsection (3)(a) is exempt from the requirements of the “Procurement Code”, articles 101 to 112 of title 24.(b)
The state department is authorized to use up to five percent of the total funds appropriated to the grant program for the direct and indirect costs of administering and monitoring the grant program.(4)
Intentionally left blank —Ed.(a)
The state department or third-party vendor shall award one or more grants to eligible entities as soon as practicable after December 7, 2020, using money appropriated to the grant program. In awarding grants, the state department shall, at a minimum, consider:(I)
Providing money to a wide array of eligible entities of different types and sizes;(II)
Ensuring that money goes directly to eligible entities that are located in a variety of regions throughout the state;(III)
The relative difference each award would make in the eligible entity’s ability to meet the needs of its clientele;(IV)
The ability of each eligible entity to responsibly distribute the grant money in a timely manner;(V)
The eligible entity’s willingness to administer a client-needs survey as a vehicle for collecting input on the efficacy of its grant award; and(VI)
The ability of the eligible entity to create a feedback loop with the sate department that can inform implementation of the grant program in the future.(b)
Grant awards, including those to joint applicants, must be at least two thousand five hundred dollars;(c)
Intentionally left blank —Ed.(I)
To the extent practicable, food purchased by a grant recipient using grant money must be designated as one of the following:(A)
A Colorado agricultural product; or(B)
An agricultural product that holds cultural significance for indigenous first nations people, or for other cultures or subcultural groups, including the ways in which those agricultural products are produced.(II)
A grant recipient may use up to twenty percent of its grant award to cover the direct and indirect expenses associated with the distribution of food, including:(A)
Transportation;(B)
Food delivery;(C)
Expanding staff costs;(D)
Refrigeration; and(E)
Storage.(III)
A grant recipient shall not resell or apply other associated fees to the distribution of products purchased with money made available through a grant.(d)
The state department may award up to one hundred thousand dollars annually from the money appropriated pursuant to subsection (6) of this section to a nonprofit entity to provide technical assistance to a grant recipient for training food pantries and providing information and assistance in purchasing and locating Colorado agricultural products. The state department or a third-party administrator shall select the nonprofit entity. The nonprofit entity must have experience working with food pantries and producers of Colorado agricultural products.(4.5)
and (5) Repealed.(6)
Intentionally left blank —Ed.(a)
For state fiscal year 2022-23, the general assembly shall appropriate three million dollars from the general fund to the state department for the grant program.(b)
This subsection (6) is repealed, effective July 1, 2024.
Source:
Section 26-2-139 — Food pantry assistance grant program - created - timeline and criteria - grants - definitions - repeal, https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-26.pdf (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).
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