Community Food Access Program
Community Food Access Program supports small food retailers and Colorado farms with infrastructure, equipment, and distribution costs to improve healthy food access and affordability in underserved communities.
Funder: Colorado Department of Agriculture
Due Dates: April 30, 2026 (Tax credit) | August 31, 2026 (Tax credit) | December 31, 2026 (Tax credit)
Funding Amounts: Grants up to $50,000 annually; refundable equipment tax credits equal to 75% of purchase costs
Summary: Supports small food retailers and Colorado farms to improve healthy food access and lower prices in low-income and underserved communities.
Key Information: Equipment tax credit applicants must be located in or serve a low-income, low-access community in Colorado.
Description
The Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Community Food Access Program supports access to affordable, healthy food in low-income and underserved areas of Colorado. Established in 2022, it includes the Small Food Business Recovery and Resilience grant program and a Community Food Consortium for small food retailers and Colorado-owned and Colorado-operated farms. Grants support infrastructure and other necessary items that make fresh, healthy food more accessible.
The program expanded in 2023 to include refundable tax credits for small food retailers and small family farms purchasing costly equipment or incurring delivery or distribution fees to increase healthy food access. The equipment tax credit supports purchases that demonstrably increase access to healthy food or lower its price in low-income, low-access communities. The program is funded in part by State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.
