PAST PROJECTS

Here’s an overview of some projects that have wrapped up in 2024 and 2025 (in alphabetical order):

Goal: Building a diverse, cross-sector coalition, alongside partners and advocates across the state, to organize around policy and implementation opportunities that link food access to health outcomes in Colorado

Outcomes:
- Monitoring rollout of Accountable Care Collaborative Phase III
- Building connections between Medicaid members, their Regional Accountable Entities, and the services provided.
- Providing education, updates, and advocacy opportunities around Colorado’s 1115 Waiver Amendment for Health-related Social Needs

Goal: Research and elevate ways that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can be more accessible for those in Colorado who are older adults, unhoused, transitioning into housing, or facing instability in their housing.
Outcomes:
- Advocating for implementation of the USDA’s Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) in Colorado through 2025 state legislation
- Led Restaurants in Community Pilot to creatively help those who would eventually qualify for a state-implemented RMP to access and enjoy fully-prepared meals; demonstrated the impacts these partnerships can have on community members and restaurant owners, gathering important qualitative and quantitative data to support Colorado’s future implementation of the USDA program.

Goal: Launch a statewide marketing and outreach campaign to support the successful implementation of Healthy School Meals for All in Colorado public schools, including a microgrant initiative for community-based organizations to lead local marketing and outreach efforts.
Outcomes:
- The statewide marketing and outreach campaign publicly launched in January 2024.
- As part of the campaign efforts, 40 community-based organizations received microgrants.

Goal: Develop and implement a microgrants initiative to support small, grassroots organizations in expanding local, healthy food access within their communities
Outcomes:
- Launched a new microgrant initiative in 2023, awarding $30,000 to community members and grassroots organizations during its first round of funding
- Pledged a total of $24,000 for the second round of funding in 2024, with support from the Colorado Community Health Alliance — eight grassroots projects received $3,000 microgrants each.

Goals: Support state advocacy to improve access to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); identify and share promising practices; and publish resources on these approaches
Updates:
- Colorado was one of six states launching Project UP, with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities; view our informational flier