(1) There is created in the department the local school food purchasing technical assistance and education grant program to issue a grant to a statewide nonprofit organization to develop and manage a grant program to assist with the promotion of Colorado grown, raised, or processed products to participating providers.
(2) Subject to available appropriations, the nonprofit organization may award grants for the following:
(a) Training, technical assistance, and physical infrastructure grants to participating providers, grower associations, or other organizations that aggregate products from producers for:
Professional contracting services to support the development and sustainability oflocal and regional food systems;
Chef training on food handling and procurement practices and small kitchen equipment purchases;
Good agricultural practices certification costs and good handling practices certification costs and training on selling to schools; and
Capacity building for local value-added processed products; and(b) Education, outreach, and promotion for:
Schools to engage families and communities around the benefits of farm-to-schooland ways to support farm-to-school; and
Grower associations and growers to communicate to schools and school communities about the multiple benefits of purchasing local products.
(3) The nonprofit organization shall annually report to the department on the technical assistance and education program including:
The number and types of entities receiving grants;
The number, types, and purposes of the grants awarded pursuant to subsection (2)(a) of this section; and
The types of education and outreach conducted by participating providers and otherspursuant to subsection (2)(b) of this section.
Source: L. 2019: Entire article added, (HB 19-1132), ch. 176, p. 2023, § 1, effective August 2.