Colorado Department of Human Services launches new pilot project
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) – Recently, the Colorado Department of Human Services has launched a program in SNAP for Coloradoans to receive a bonus when buying healthy foods.
Abby McClelland, the director of the Food and Energy Assistance Division at the Colorado Department of Human Services, states, 'This is a pilot program that we're really excited to be a part of in Colorado. We're one of three states administering this program. So we're really excited that it's available to Colorado SNAP participants.'
There is a benefit to eating greens, and there is going to be more green coming to the SNAP program here in the Centennial State.
The Colorado Department of Human Services has announced a new pilot project in which Coloradans on the SNAP program can go to participating retailers and buy fruits and vegetables. With and automatically, they will receive a full rebate, up to $60 a month on their SNAP cards, that they can use for any SNAP-eligible food.
And the best part is it doesn't require an application or any vouchers. It's all done electronically.
McClelland states, 'So I would urge folks to check the retailer list, because we're adding retailers all the time. So far, our focus has been on smaller retailers like farmers market vendors or smaller brick-and-mortar stores in more rural areas in order to keep the benefits feeding the local economy as well, but we're looking to expand to even more retailers over the next year or so.
Officials from the CDHS say there are more than 30 locations here in Colorado. WesternSlopeNow was able to see there are three locations on the Western Slope.
One in Grand Junction that is only open on Saturdays and two in Hotchkiss.
There is another program that is also helping Coloradans with SNAP benefits.
'There's another similar program called Double Up Box, which […] is available at farmers markets, which runs concurrently. So there are multiple ways that people can get these reimbursements for buying produce. That's a program where you do get a paper voucher,' McClelland said.
McClelland says Louisiana and Washington State are also among the three states that launched this program.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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