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Coloradans using food assistance to buy produce can receive bonus matching funds

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Coloradans using food assistance to buy produce can receive bonus matching funds


Coloradans who receive food assistance now have another financial incentive to buy produce, but only if they shop at certain local businesses.

The state is one of three piloting new incentives, and will receive $7.9 million by the end of 2027 to offer matching funds for money spent on fruits and vegetables purchased with money from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

The other states that will receive funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to try out the Produce Bonus program are Washington and Louisiana.

Recipients can receive up to $20 in matching funds per transaction, for a maximum of $60 per month. The match is available for money spent on fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, provided they don’t contain added fat, salt or sugar. At farmers markets, recipients can also get matching funds for funds spent on dried beans, fruits and vegetables, provided they don’t have those three added ingredients.

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Coloradans who receive food assistance already have some incentives to buy produce, such as Double Up Food Bucks, which are paper coupons they receive when buying fruits and vegetables.

Produce Bonus funds automatically appear on people’s earned benefit transfer cards, so they don’t have to remember paper coupons, said Abby McClelland, director of the food and energy assistance division at the Colorado Department of Human Services.

People can spend their Produce Bonus funds on any foods that SNAP covers, unlike the Double Up funds, which are only good for fruits and vegetables, she said.

Because the cards don’t differentiate funding for produce from other food, states aren’t able to limit how recipients can spend the bonus money, a USDA spokeswoman said.

So far, the only participating Denver location is a single farmers market, and the other locations are concentrated in the upper portion of the Interstate 25 corridor, between Loveland and Wellington. See cdhs.colorado.gov/snap-produce-bonus for a full list.

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The department is working to get more retailers involved, though some may have to upgrade their software or card readers to process the rebate funds, McClelland said. They are focusing on locally owned businesses in areas with low access to food and low average incomes, with no immediate plans to bring in chain grocery stores, she said.

“We’re trying to be strategic,” she said.

While the USDA ultimately will decide if the program succeeded, McClelland said she hopes it can increase food assistance recipients’ produce consumption and overall purchasing power, while giving a boost to businesses in underserved areas.

“I think this is a step forward,” she said.

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Colorado

What’s Working: Colorado restaurant owners spoke out to change state policy this year. It worked, sorta.

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What’s Working: Colorado restaurant owners spoke out to change state policy this year. It worked, sorta.



Quick links: No tax on tips | Minimum wage by state | Denver budget woes | 16th Street update | Colorado Springs adds chipmaker

Kinda win some, sorta lose some, but get a lot of attention while doing it may best describe 2025’s lawmaking session for the Colorado restaurant industry, or at least for the Colorado Restaurant Association.

“This was one of the most challenging legislative sessions in my decade with the CRA, but we feel that we made some good progress on behalf of the restaurant industry,” said Sonia Riggs, the organization’s president and CEO.

Years of rising food, labor and operational costs have dismayed independent restaurants, already operating on low margins. While new eateries still open regularly, the demise of some well-known Denver-area restaurants in the past year and ongoing struggles of nearly all, spurred action by the organization that represents 5,000 food businesses around the state.

Even though a bill to end credit card fees on tax and tips failed, the restaurant association was “grateful and relieved” when Gov. Jared Polis vetoed a bill that would have made it easier for workers to unionize under the state’s unique Labor Peace Act.

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Administrative and Merchandise Manager Amanda Stamm wipes down a table Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, at Ratio Beerworks. (Alyte Katilius, Special to The Colorado Sun)

One of the more heated bills attracted dozens of restaurant owners who showed up at the statehouse to testify in support of the so-called Restaurant Relief Act, aka House Bill 1208.

The bill proposed increasing the amount employers could offset hourly pay to tipped workers, whose own tips would cover the difference. It only applied to areas where the local wage was higher than the state’s, such as in Denver, where tipped servers make $15.78 an hour, or $4 more than the state’s tipped minimum.

Worker advocates fought back because it meant a pay cut for the lowest-paid workers. And not all restaurant owners were in support of the initial plan, including Holly Adinoff, owner and general manager of Sullivan Scrap Kitchen in Denver.

“It was heartbreaking to think that the only way that restaurants could succeed is by cutting wages 25% for people who are barely making it,” said Adinoff, also a member of the policy team at Good Business Colorado, a grassroots business organization that advocates for equitable communities. “It just doesn’t seem right to hurt the people that make our restaurant possible.”

Others, like advocates at the national One Fair Wage, wanted to eliminate the tipped credit so all workers are paid full minimum wage — and keep their tips.

After a massive overhaul, the bill passed but left the decision on whether to change the tipped credit to the local municipality. Polis hasn’t signed the bill into law yet, but Riggs called it “a big win” and said the governor is expected to sign it.

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Even though no immediate relief is expected, all the attention to the plight of restaurants was appreciated by local owners, like Alec Schuler, chef-owner of the three Tangerine breakfast spots in Boulder, Lafayette and Longmont.

“I like the direction things are going. They’re trying to lower credit-card fees. They’re trying not to tax tips. There are things that are supporting restaurants that are generally better for me,” said Schuler, who supported changing tipped minimum wages even if only the Boulder location could benefit. “It’s minimal … but 80-cents an hour still adds up to a chunk of money.”


On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved the No Tax on Tips Act, an issue that both presidential candidates supported during the election season.

If it becomes law as is, tipped workers — including restaurant servers, bartenders, baristas, food-delivery drivers and those at beauty salons or barber shops — won’t have to pay federal taxes on tips as they must today. The benefit, however, has limits including a deduction of up to $25,000 and only for tipped workers who earn $160,000 or less in 2025. The amount will adjust to annual inflation, according to a New York Times analysis.

A bartender prepares a drink Feb. 28 at Champagne Tiger. (Alyte Katilius, Special to The Colorado Sun)

There’s a similar measure that’s part of Trump’s big budget bill that would also exempt overtime pay from federal taxes.

CRA hasn’t taken a side on the policy, but other restaurant owners say it would be helpful because it allows tipped workers to save a little bit more of their earnings.

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“Any way that we can get more money into our people’s hands is great,” said Adinoff, with Sullivan Scrap Kitchen. “I’m interested to see where it goes.”

Meanwhile, worker advocates at One Fair Wage, which took a hard stance against Colorado’s tipped-wages bill, said the No Tax on Tips Act won’t help two-thirds of workers out there who don’t even earn enough to pay federal taxes. It “completely ignores the core crisis facing millions of workers in the service sector: poverty wages,” the organization said in a statement.

map visualization

According to the Internal Revenue Service, individuals who earn less than $14,600 a year don’t have to pay federal income taxes. That amounts to about $7 an hour if the person works a 40-hour workweek all year.

That’s well below Colorado’s current minimum wage of $14.81 and tipped minimum wage of $11.79. But 20 states pay the federal minimum of $7.25 and a tipped minimum of $2.13 an hour. Those states haven’t raised their minimum wage since the federal government required them to in 2009.


The Colorado River flows through the Shoshone Intake Diversion Dam in Glenwood Canyon on April 9, 2024. The diversion dam — built in 1907 — sends water to the Shoshone Hydroelectric Plant downstream. (Hugh Carey, The Colorado Sun)

➔ Front Range cities step up opposition to $99 million Colorado River water rights purchase. Western Slope communities, led by the Colorado River District, want to buy the historic Shoshone Power Plant water rights to support their economies. >> Read story

➔ A new art center debuts in an old Denver fortune cookie factory. The privately funded Cookie Factory opens May 24 and will focus on showing new work by two contemporary artists per year >> Read story

➔ Running a food truck in Denver (and the rest of Colorado) is about to get simpler. A bill signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Jared Polis will allow food truck operators to get a single license to operate in different parts of the state >> Read story

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The U.S. Capitol on March 4, 2025. (Caitlyn Kim/CPR News)

➔ How Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” would impact Medicaid in Colorado. Work requirements could increase the number of people without health insurance in Colorado, but other provisions may not cut as deep as earlier feared >> Read story

➔ AT&T buying Lumen’s home fiber business, including Colorado market, for $5.75 billion. Coloradans may be more familiar with Lumen’s old moniker, CenturyLink. >> Read story

➔ Colorado cities sue Jared Polis, state over housing policies. A lawsuit filed Monday argues the state is violating the right of local governments to shape how they grow and develop >> Read story


The Colorado Sun launched a new series of stories earlier this week to take a deeper look into what it’s like to get older in Colorado. Here are the first two stories:

💼📢 The Colorado Sun is hiring a Chief Operating Officer. We’re seeking a strategic, collaborative and operations-minded leader to join our team in a crucial role that will help shape The Sun’s next chapter. Applications close June 15. Apply now

➔ City of Denver warns of layoffs. Mayor Mike Johnston announced Thursday that the city is expecting $50 million less in revenue this year and anticipates a $200 million deficit next year due to the nation’s economic downturn that has consumers spending less. According to a presentation, he also shared that expenses outpaced revenue since 2023. The city immediately put a freeze on hiring and will make most employees take two to seven days of furloughs this year. In a news release, city officials also warned of possible layoffs in 2026. >> See the mayor’s presentation

A construction worker walks outside a window while a person inside a dimly lit room eats at a table, with trees and a construction site visible in the background.
The 16th Street Mall is pictured from inside Dragonfly Noodle during lunch hour May 30, 2024, in Denver. (Andy Colwell, Special to The Colorado Sun)

➔ At least Denver’s 16th Street Mall is nearly done. But its name has changed. It’s now just called 16th Street. Construction has taken more than three years and is expected to be done by the fall. Denverite reported that the branding and renaming campaign cost $100,000.

➔ Colorado Springs attracts another chipmaker. Okika Devices, which rebranded itself in January as it shifted from analog design to products, picked the Springs for its new headquarters and research and development center. Based in Carlsbad, California, Okika currently employs six people and plans to add 20 in Colorado with an average annual wage of $104,250. The company is eligible for up to $402,532 in state income tax credits from Pikes Peak Enterprise Zone.

➔ Upcoming job fair for 9-1-1 call takers. What’s it like to be the person answering 9-1-1 calls? You can now find out — and apply for a job — during the Colorado 9-1-1 Resource Center’s virtual job fair on June 3. Two sessions, one at 2 p.m. and the other at 6 p.m., will share what training it takes and stories from working emergency communication specialists. RSVP if you’re interested in attending. >> Sign up

Got some economic news or business bits Coloradans should know? Tell us: cosun.co/heyww


Have a nice Memorial Day weekend! As always, share your 2 cents on how the economy is keeping you down or helping you up at cosun.co/heyww. ~ tamara 

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Miss a column? Catch up:


What’s Working is a Colorado Sun column about surviving in today’s economy. Email tamara@coloradosun.com with stories, tips or questions. Read the archive, ask a question at cosun.co/heyww and don’t miss the next one by signing up at coloradosun.com/getww.

Support this free newsletter and become a Colorado Sun member: coloradosun.com/join

Notice something wrong? The Colorado Sun has an ethical responsibility to fix all factual errors. Request a correction by emailing corrections@coloradosun.com.

Type of Story: News

Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.

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Heavy traffic expected on Colorado’s I-70 over Memorial Day weekend

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Heavy traffic expected on Colorado’s I-70 over Memorial Day weekend


The Colorado Department of Transportation said heavy traffic is anticipated along the Front Range and mountain highways, especially on westbound I-70 on Friday and Saturday, and eastbound I-70 from Eagle County to the Denver metro area on Memorial Day.



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Traveler with measles was at Denver International Airport last week, Colorado health officials issue warning

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Traveler with measles was at Denver International Airport last week, Colorado health officials issue warning


An out-of-state flyer in Colorado who was contagious with measles traveled through Denver International Airport last week. That’s according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

That traveler also stayed that the Quality Inn and Suites close to the airport. The hotel is located off Tower Road.

That traveler was at the airport, on a shuttle and at the hotel on May 13th and 14.

See a detailed breakdown of exactly where that person went and what time:

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Tuesday, May 13

Denver International Airport, 5 – 8 p.m.
Arrived at Gate A-27 in concourse A at 5:10 p.m.
Walked across the bridge to international customs.
International baggage claim 3.
Main terminal

Quality Inn and Suites shuttle to hotel, 6 – 8 p.m. 

Rode shuttle at 6 p.m.

Quality Inn and Suites Denver International Airport lobby and elevator: 6:15 – 8:15 p.m.
6890 Tower Rd.
Denver, CO, 80249

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Wednesday, May 14

Hotel lobby and elevator: Wednesday, May 14, 5 – 7 a.m.

Quality Inn and Suites shuttle to the airport, 5 a.m.

Denver International Airport, 5:30 – 10 a.m.
Main terminal, train to gates,  and concourse B. Flight departed from Gate B-86.

“Measles is highly contagious, and we are working swiftly to identify and notify anyone who may have been exposed. Vaccination remains the most effective protection against this preventable disease,” said Dr. Rachel Herlihy, state epidemiologist and deputy chief medical officer.

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There have been several cases of measles reported in Colorado this year.



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