Frequently Asked Questions

A farm that is Colorado-owned and Colorado-operated and has an annual gross revenue below three hundred fifty thousand dollars ($350,000).

1. An independent or nonprofit-managed, Colorado-owned, and Colorado-operated small food retail business, defined as a food retailer with less than ten thousand square feet of retail space that carries at least three categories of federally defined staple foods, and be located in or provide food to local, state, or federally defined low-income, low-access neighborhoods; or
2. A farmer's market or farm-direct operation that is already or demonstrates an intent to become SNAP and WIC -authorized where allowed.
    

Staple food:

• Food in the following categories: meat, poultry, or fish; bread or cereals; vegetables or fruits; and dairy products. The meat, poultry, or fish category also includes up to three types of plant-based protein sources as well as varieties of plant-based meat analogues. The dairy category also includes varieties of plant-based dairy alternative staple food items such as, but not limited to, almond milk and soy yogurt.
• Hot foods do not qualify as staple foods. Commercially processed foods and prepared mixtures with multiple ingredients that do not represent a single staple food category shall only be counted in one staple food category.
• “Staple food” does not include accessory food items, such as coffee, tea, cocoa, carbonated and noncarbonated drinks, candy, condiments, and spices.

• Fresh, frozen, unprocessed or minimally processed produce;
• Locally grown or raised products;
• Other food items that may not be normally present in a particular location but that serve the culinary and health needs of a particular population;
• Nutrient dense proteins and grains;
• Other foods meeting a local definition of “healthy” and that provide nutritional value for human health.

Healthy foods do not include prepared foods or hot and ready foods. Healthy foods do not include alcoholic beverages or cannabis products.

For more definitions, scroll to the bottom of this webpage.

Small Food Retailers and Small Family Farms must be located in or serve a Low Income, Low Access (LILA) community in Colorado to be eligible to receive funds. Use the maps below for guidance:

• Dark purple areas on this America’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative map are eligible to apply. 
• Tribal areas are considered LILA areas.
• Qualified Census Tracts on this US Department of Housing and Urban Development map are considered LILA areas. When using this map, be sure to zoom in past level 7, and select the “Color QCT Qualified Tracts” box on the left.

Businesses may still apply even if they are not located in nor serve a population in one of the qualifying areas listed above. A narrative with supporting data outlining the ways in which their community meets a local definition of “Low Income, Low Access” must be provided in the application.

• Cold Storage: Refrigeration and freezer units (consumer-facing or storage)
• Display shelving and display cases;
• Produce scales;
• Food preservation equipment in order to extend the availability of healthy food for customers beyond the local harvest or slaughter calendar;
• Deli slicers and meat grinders for fresh meat;
• Dry storage containers;
• Delivery trucks that will be primarily used for the transportation of healthy food to LILA communities (refrigerated or standard vehicles);
• New or used farming and ranching equipment that will demonstrably and significantly increase retail healthy food access in LILA communities, including but not limited to equipment that is essential for planting, harvesting, packing, storing, extending the growing season, raising food-producing animals, and shipping healthy food.

Not Eligible Equipment Expenses:

• Storage or retail display equipment for alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, sports and energy drinks or cannabis products;
• Vending machines that do not offer healthy food;
• Storage or equipment for prepared foods; and
• Equipment that will not result in expanded access to or lowered prices for healthy food for LILA communities.

• New POS systems, including software, hardware, monitors, printers, and incidental supplies that are directly related to implementing or improving SNAP, WIC, or other food incentive program
• Upgrades to existing POS systems

Not Eligible:

• Purchasing or updating POS systems that are not equipped to accept SNAP and / or WIC
   

The application will include questions related to the impact of your purchase. Depending on the type of business, this may include:

• Increased sales of healthy foods to LILA communities
• Increased sales to customers paying with SNAP or WIC
• Increased hours of operation
• Increased opportunities to purchase healthy foods

View the application to read these questions.

No, food is not an eligible expense.

Proof of Payment Guide