Small Food Business Recovery & Resilience Grant – Colorado - fundsforNGOs

The Colorado Department of Agriculture is seeking applications for its Small Food Business Recovery & Resilience Grant.

Donor Name: Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA)

State: Colorado

County: All Counties

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline: 11/07/2023

Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000

Grant Duration: 2 Years

Details:

The Community Food Access program strives to increase access to and lower prices for healthy food in low income, low access areas of the state by supporting small food retailers and small family farms.

The program utilizes State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to support small food retailers and small family farms committed to expanding access to healthy food in their communities.

Food Definitions

Staple Food – Used for determining Small Food Retailer eligibility
- Meat, poultry, or fish, or up to three types of plant-based protein sources as well as varieties of plant-based meat analogs
- Bread or cereals
- Vegetables or fruits
- Dairy products and varieties of plant-based dairy alternative staple food items such as, but not limited to, almond milk and soy yogurt.

Hot foods do not qualify as staple foods. Commercially processed foods and prepared mixtures with multiple ingredients that do not represent a single staple food category shall only count in one staple food category.
This qualifier does not include coffee, tea, cocoa, carbonated and non-carbonated drinks, candy, condiments, and spices.

Healthy Food – Foods the grant program will increase access to
- Fresh, frozen, unprocessed or minimally processed produce; locally grown or raised products; other food items that may not be normally present in a particular location but that serve the culinary and health needs of a particular population; nutrient dense proteins and grains; or other foods meeting a local definition of “healthy” and that provide nutritional value for human health. Healthy food does not include prepared foods or hot and ready foods.

Funding Information

The Colorado Department of Agriculture plans to host up to three grant rounds before September 2024 and distribute a total of $5.5 million in funds through this program. After December 2024, the grant program will end and support for this program will continue through a tax credit program. The maximum grant award will be $50,000 per business, per year.

Grant Period

All funds must be encumbered by December 31, 2024 and spent by December 31, 2026.

Eligible Uses

Many types of expenses are eligible to receive funding in the four categories listed below.

Equipment
- Cold Storage: Refrigeration and freezer units (consumer-facing or storage)
- Display shelving and display cases
- Produce scales
- Food preservation equipment to extend the availability of healthy food for customers beyond the local harvest or slaughter calendar
- Deli slicers and meat grinders for fresh meat
- Dry storage containers
- Major repairs or updates to existing equipment listed above
- Delivery trucks that will be primarily used for the transportation of healthy food to LILA communities (refrigerated or standard vehicles)
- Major repairs or updates to delivery vehicles that provide transportation of healthy foods
- New or used farming and ranching equipment that will demonstrably and significantly increase retail healthy food access in LILA communities, including but not limited to equipment essential for planting, harvesting, packing, storing, extending the growing season, raising food-producing animals, and shipping healthy food.
Accounting and Book Management
- Online accounting systems
- Technical support through contracted services
Point of Sales Machines
- New Point of Sale (POS) systems, including software, hardware, monitors, printers, and incidental supplies that are directly related to implementing or improving SNAP, WIC, or other food incentive programs
- Staff training expenses
- Upgrades to existing POS systems
Operating Expenses
- Eligible Distribution Expenses
  - Inventory tracking systems
  - Mileage to deliver to small food retailers
  - Contract delivery services, including last-mile delivery
  - Direct to consumer online order systems and delivery costs
- Eligible Packaging and Storing Expenses
  - Packaging materials for healthy foods
  - Contract services for packing and storing
  - Construction of buildings for storage
  - Storage containers
- Eligible Personnel Expenses
  - Services or staff time for installing eligible equipment
  - Staff time associated with becoming SNAP or WIC authorized, maintaining authorization, or managing an ongoing healthy food incentive program
  - Services or staff time for small construction projects or build outs related to expanding access to healthy food
  - Services or staff time for creating educational material highlighting new healthy food offerings
  - New staff to maintain supply, stock, ensure proper storage, and ensure rotation of new perishable healthy food offerings.
- Eligible Education Expenses
  - Educational material that directly targets LILA communities in Colorado
  - Translation and interpretation services
  - Signage related to healthy food promotion, SNAP, WIC, Double Up Food Bucks, or any healthy food incentive program
  - Signage or educational materials for local products and local producers
- Eligible Retail Expenses
  - Remodeling to accommodate display and storage of healthy foods
  - Increased utility expenses related to recent (within one year of grant application opening) or new purchase of equipment to expand healthy food access/options
  - Equipment for mobile stands to sell healthy foods at temporary locations, including tents, coolers, and tables
- Eligible Operating Expenses for Becoming Authorized to offer SNAP, WIC or another Incentive Program
  - Technical Assistance (contractors) to support becoming or remaining authorized
  - Tuition or registration for education and training
  - Subscription for SNAP/WIC payment processing app
  - Other operating expenses the Commissioner determines qualify as directly improving food access to LILA communities.

Who should apply?

Small Food Retail businesses (SFR) defined as a food retailer that
- Is Colorado-owned and operated
- Is independently owned or managed by a nonprofit
- Has less than 10,000 sq feet of retail space
- Carries at least three categories of federally designated staple foods, and
- Is located in or provides food to local, state, or federally-defined low-income, low-access neighborhoods. OR
- A farmers’ market or farm-direct operation that is already or demonstrates an intent to become SNAP and WIC -authorized where allowed.
Small Family Farm businesses (SFF) defined as
- A farm that is Colorado-owned and Colorado-operated and has an annual gross revenue below $350,000.