Food Pantry Assistance Grant Program

The act expands and extends the provisions of the food pantry assistance grant program (grant program) that is currently in law. Current law states that all grants from the grant program must be made on or before December 30, 2020, and allows for grants to food banks and food pantries, including faith-based organizations (eligible entities). The act extends this date to March 31, 2021. The act states that it is the intent of the general assembly that all money awarded by the grant program is expended on or before July 31, 2021.

Currently, grant awards through the grant program range from $2,500 to $35,000. The act no longer caps the grant awards at $35,000. The amount a grant recipient may use for direct and indirect expenses is increased from 10% to 20%. Allowable expenses are expanded to include food delivery.

The repeal date is extended one year to June 30, 2023.

For the 2020-21 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $5,000,000 to the department of human services. This appropriation is from the general fund and is based on an assumption that the department will require an additional 0.5 FTE. To implement the act, the department may use the appropriation for the food pantry assistance grant program created in section 26-2-139, C.R.S.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)