Local Food Program – Technical Assistance Education Grant
Forecasted
Local Food Program – Technical Assistance Education Grant supports school meal sponsors’ purchases of Colorado-grown, raised, or processed foods for student meals, connecting schools with local agriculture.
Funder: Colorado Department of Education
Due Dates (Anticipated): July 2027 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: More than $15.4 million across 131 school districts and 14 charter school sites for 2026–27
Summary: Supports school meal sponsors in purchasing Colorado-grown, raised, or processed products for student meals.
Key Information: Eligible sponsors must operate Healthy School Meals for All.
Description
The Colorado Department of Education’s School Nutrition office administers the Local Food Program to help eligible school meal sponsors purchase Colorado-grown, raised, or processed products. The program brings local foods into meals served to students and strengthens connections between schools and Colorado’s agricultural community. Funding is directed toward food purchases, with Colorado origin or processing central to the products supported.
The program has expanded to include all sponsors operating Healthy School Meals for All, including individual charter schools, residential childcare institutes, and facility schools. CDE provides a program FAQ, a funding estimator, and assigned School Nutrition point people to support sponsors with program questions, applications, reviews, and technical assistance.
