Colorado Communities Rally as Federal Food Aid Cuts Threaten Local Families and Businesses

Colorado's rural and urban communities joined forces Thursday as U.S. Senator Michael Bennet met with local business owners, farmers, and community leaders to address growing concerns over proposed federal food assistance reductions that could impact thousands of Colorado families.

The high-stakes roundtable brought together diverse voices from across the Centennial State, including a grocery store manager from rural Baca County and a Wellington farmer, highlighting how potential cuts could ripple through Colorado's local economies and food systems.

Local Impact Spans Rural and Urban Colorado

The proposed cuts would affect Colorado communities in multiple ways:

• Rural grocery stores could face decreased revenue, threatening their survival in small communities
• Local farmers may see reduced demand for their products
• Food banks across the Front Range could experience increased pressure
• Colorado families struggling with inflation could face additional hardship

Community Leaders Voice Concerns

The roundtable highlighted how federal food assistance programs serve as a crucial economic lifeline in Colorado's rural communities, where local grocery stores depend on a stable customer base to remain viable. For many small towns across Colorado's eastern plains and western slope, these stores represent the only reliable source of fresh food for miles.

The discussion comes at a critical time as Congress debates billions in potential cuts to federal nutrition programs that many Colorado families rely on, particularly as they continue to face rising food costs and economic challenges.

According to Senator Bennet's office, the roundtable is part of a broader effort to ensure Colorado's unique needs are considered in federal policy discussions, particularly regarding food security and rural economic stability.

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