Local Government Food Policy Database
Healthy Food for Denver’s Kids Initiative, Denver, Colorado
| Jurisdiction Name | Denver |
| State / Province | CO |
| Country | United States |
| Type of Government | Municipality/County |
| Population | 600,158 |
| Population Range | 250,000 to 999,999 |
| Year | 2018 |
| Policy Links |
Download PDF |
| Policy Type | ordinance |
| GFC Topic | community food security |
| Keywords | affordable, education, healthy, healthy food access, local food access, low-income, ordinance, sales tax, school meal, youth |
| Adopting Government Department(s) | Denver City Council |
| Lead Implementing Entity(s) | Healthy Food for Denver's Kids Commission |
| Supporting Entity(s) | Denver Department of Public Health & Environment |
| Funding Amount | Estimated $100 million over ten years (2018-2028) |
| Funding Sources | Tax payers (through a sales tax increase of 0.08%) |
| Policy Outcome(s) |
The Healthy Food for Denver’s Kids was created through a 2018 ballot initiative to provide healthy food and food-based education to Denver’s youth, specifically those who are low-income and at-risk. The program is funded the 0.08% increase in sales taxes (less than one penny to $10), about $11.2 million in its first year. The tax revenues are distributed through the Denver Food Commission to help provide three meals a day year-round for children, provide cooking, gardening, and healthy eating classes, support local farms, ranches, and food businesses, and support schools and non-profit organizations supporting healthy eating in youth populations. The initiative is planned to run for a total of nine years (2018-2027). |
| Additional Resources |
http://healthyfoodfordenver.com/ https://www.denvergov.org/content/denvergov/en/environmental-health/community-health/food-system-policies.html |
