Applications are now open to Colorado farmers, ranchers, and food businesses looking to show they’re Colorado Proud. The Colorado Proud Marketing and Technical Assistance grant program will award competitive grants to Colorado food and agricultural producers who are looking to broaden their reach and expand into new sales channels.
Up to $375,000 in funding is available to Colorado producers to help them grow their businesses, market to broader audiences, and create new market opportunities. The one-time funding will be used to help producers incorporate the Colorado Proud logo within new packaging, marketing promotions, e-commerce, labeling, UPCs, and more. Awards will be capped at $10,000 and require 10% cash or in-kind match of the total amount requested. Projects must be completed by April 30, 2022.
“We know Coloradans are proud of the food and agricultural products from our state, so creating a strong Colorado Proud environment will help increase consumer loyalty, improve sales, and open up new market channels,” said Danielle Trotta, Colorado Proud program manager. “Incorporating the Colorado Proud logo into packaging and adding e-commerce capabilities will increase brand identification for Colorado-made products to help connect consumers directly to the food grown, raised, and made here.”
A recent study of Colorado consumers showed two thirds are more likely to intentionally purchase products with the Colorado Proud logo and more than 90 percent would buy more Colorado grown and produced products if they were available and identified as being from Colorado.
Proposals that intend to use the funding to update packaging utilizing the most current Colorado Proud logo and for e-commerce or web development will be given priority. Also prioritized will be proposals from Colorado Proud members, but any Colorado-based business can apply. Membership in Colorado Proud is free and businesses can join at ColoradoProud.com.
The funding for the Colorado Proud Marketing and Technical Assistance grant comes from the Colorado Comeback stimulus bill (SB 21-203).
The Colorado Department of Agriculture's Colorado Proud program, which promotes food and agricultural products that are grown, raised, or processed in Colorado, is ideally positioned to assist food and agricultural businesses through a broad portfolio of business development, state branding, and export promotional activities. Expanding the reach of Colorado Proud products provides new opportunities for Colorado's food and agricultural businesses to increase sales globally, help support the growth and resiliency of Colorado’s local food systems, and build greater awareness among buyers and consumers of the wide array of high-quality Colorado food and agricultural products.
To apply, businesses must submit the online application form along with a list of documents requested. All items must be submitted by 5 p.m. on November 1, 2021.