Small Town Project Awarded Emergency Funding from State of Colorado

Description: Small Town Project will receive a $20,000 grant to connect community members with more Colorado-grown produce, products, and nutrient-dense foods during this time of high need. They are one of 245 food pantries across the state and one of 10 in southeast Colorado to be awarded emergency funding from the State of Colorado.

Small Town Project was awarded emergency funding from the State of Colorado

Grant to help purchase and distribute Colorado-grown produce and nutrient-dense foods.

Rocky Ford, COLO. - Small Town Project will receive a $20,000 grant to connect community members with more Colorado-grown produce, products, and nutrient-dense foods during this time of high need. They are one of 245 food pantries across the state and one of 10 in southeast Colorado to be awarded emergency funding from the State of Colorado.

Food pantries like Small Town Project across Colorado are experiencing increased demand within their communities. In addition to the continued impacts of inflation, the recent reduction in benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) - related to the end of the public health emergency - has led to more families and individuals turning to food pantries for food assistance and nutritional support.

"We have seen the number of visitors coming increase by 46% since the end of SNAP Emergency Allotments. This funding will allow us to continue to strengthen our local food systems by purchasing directly from our local farmers and ranchers around Rocky Ford while providing more healthy foods directly to our community", said Small Town Project's Development Director.

Recognizing the ongoing need in Colorado communities, state lawmakers and Gov. Polis allocated additional funding for quick release to local organizations that directly provide access to food in their communities. The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) redirected $14 million in supplemental state funding specifically for food banks and food pantries this year. The Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger (Blueprint), a collective impact organization focused on shifting power dynamics and building capacity in communities, is distributing $4.05 million of those funds through its existing Food Pantry Assistance Grant (FPAG) program.

The grant distribution program exists to support organizations working directly in Colorado communities so everyone can access healthy food options near where they live. Grant opportunities are open all food pantries in the state, with a focus on purchasing meat, dairy and fresh produce from local farmers, ranchers, and producers. The current grant cycle also focuses on expanding access to culturally relevant and nutritionally appropriate foods.

"All food pantries awarded funding align with the program goals and our commitment to equity," shared Dana Wood, the Blueprint's Community Investment Manager. "By working with CDHS and the Governor's office to distribute these grants, we're moving closer towards our vision of a Colorado where everyone who lives here can access the food they choose, where they want it, and when they need it."

To learn more about Small Town Project and how they support the community, visit www.smalltownproject.org

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