Local school food purchasing technical assistance and education grant program - created - report

(1) Subject to subsection (4) of this section, there is created in the department the local school food purchasing technical assistance and education grant program to issue a grant to a statewide nonprofit organization to develop and manage a grant program to assist with the promotion of Colorado grown, raised, or processed products to participating school food authorities and to assist participating school food authorities in preparing meals using basic ingredients, with minimal reliance on processed products. (2) Subject to available appropriations, the nonprofit organization may award grants for: (a) Training, technical assistance, and physical infrastructure, awarded to participating school food authorities, grower associations, or other organizations that aggregate products from producers for: (I) Professional contracting services to support the development and sustainability of local and regional food systems; (II) Chef training on food handling, meal preparation using basic ingredients, and procurement practices, and for kitchen equipment purchases; (III) Good agricultural practices certification costs and good handling practices certification costs and training on selling to schools; and (IV) Capacity building for local value-added processed products; and (b) Education, outreach, and promotion for: (I) Schools to engage families and communities on the benefits of farm-to-school and ways to support farm-to-school; (II) Grower associations and growers to communicate to schools and school communities about the multiple benefits of purchasing local products; and (III) Other activities that support the development and use of locally produced products in meals served at school. (3) The nonprofit organization shall annually report to the department on implementation of the technical assistance and education grant program, including: (a) The number and types of entities receiving grants; (b) The number, types, and purposes of the grants awarded pursuant to subsection (2)(a) of this section; and (c) The types of education, outreach, and promotion conducted by participating school food authorities and others pursuant to subsection (2)(b) of this section. (4) Subject to available appropriations, this section is effective beginning in the 2025-26 budget year.