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THE GOVERNOR'S NEWSLETTER

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GOVERNOR'S WEBSITE


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PRESS RELEASES


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STATE JOB BOARD


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COLORADO BILL TRACKER



October 23, 2025
Taking Action to Protect Food Access for All Coloradans




I announced new actions to help hungry Coloradans get food as the federal government’s shutdown stops funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food for more than 600,000 Coloradans — half of whom are children.


Following direction from the U.S. Department of Agriculture on October 10 to
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suspend the release of November SNAP food access, Colorado is moving swiftly to support families and communities across the state. The Governor’s Office submitted two requests: one to consider approval for up to $10 million in General Fund revenue to support food banks and pantries, and another to extend previously approved funding for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
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nutrition access through November. WIC supports food access for nearly 100,000 women and children in Colorado.


Our state is also announcing a new philanthropic initiative through
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Feeding Colorado that invites individuals and businesses to help meet the growing demand for food assistance by donating, and is
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launching a map to show where Coloradans rely most on SNAP support.


I also visited the
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Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado in Colorado Springs. The organization distributes food to 291 partners across 29 counties. I toured the facility, and met with staff to discuss the impacts the federal shutdown and SNAP cuts are having on Coloradans and their communities.


SNAP is fully funded by the federal government and administered by the state; as a result of the ongoing federal shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has instructed all states to pause November food access until additional federal funds are released.


The
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Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) administers SNAP, which provides grocery food access to more than 600,000 Coloradans across 330,000 households — half of whom are children, with 10% elderly and 15% living with disabilities. The program distributes approximately $120 million in food support each month, supporting local grocers, farmers, and nearly 10,000 grocery workers statewide. On average, every dollar in SNAP food access generates about $1.50 in local economic activity, strengthening small businesses and rural economies alike. In the meantime, CDHS is coordinating closely with counties, food banks, and community organizations to ensure families are informed, applications continue to be processed, and local partners have the resources to meet increased demand.


If Colorado families and individuals need more food resources during the government shutdown, the State encourages Coloradans to reach out to your local food banks, pantries, or community agencies in your area.


To find these resources in your area, please contact:


Colorado 211: Dial 2-1-1 or (866)760-5489 or visit
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www.211colorado.org


Feeding Colorado Resources at
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www.feedingcolorado.org/find-food or
mailto:[email protected]
[email protected]


When the shutdown ends, there will be more information to share about the future of SNAP benefits. More up-to-date information can be found on the Colorado PEAK website:
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Those able to help are encouraged to donate to local food banks. While canned goods are welcome, financial donations go further — every dollar helps food banks purchase and distribute more meals statewide. Donations can be made at
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FeedingColorado.org/donate .


Celebrating Diwali


I had the honor of hosting the first annual Celebration of Diwali at the Governor’s Residence at the Boettcher Mansion. I want to thank the
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Colorado South Asian Artists Group for sharing their incredible artwork and our participating local restaurants:
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Spice Room ,
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Little India ,
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Paradise Tavern ,
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Rocky Mountain Momo ,
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SoJo Kitchen & Co. ,
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Prost Brewing , and
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Chai Five Organics .


Diwali, the festival of lights, reminds us that light always triumphs over darkness, that hope, goodness, and perseverance prevail. That same spirit is at the heart of Colorado’s story: people from all over the world coming here, working hard, building businesses, and creating opportunities for themselves, their families, and others.


This event celebrated the strong Indian and South East Asian communities in Colorado, and we welcomed another opportunity to celebrate diversity as a strength in our Colorado for All.


Call for the Next Colorado Poet Laureate
Colorado’s Poet Laureate advocates for poetry, literacy, and literature by participating in readings and other events at the state capitol, schools, libraries, and literary festivals. Selection criteria are artistic excellence and a history of community service that elevates poetry.


Nominations are now open for the next Colorado Poet Laureate, who will serve a two-year term from January 2026 through December 2027.


The Poet Laureate will represent and celebrate the breadth and history of stories of the land currently known as Colorado. Alongside the marking of 150 years since the state entered the Union, the 11th Poet Laureate will explore and undertake diverse, imaginative efforts to remember our shared past and imagine a unified future, recognizing that our history includes the experiences of a range of peoples who have called the region home, across cultures, ages, abilities, orientations, and rural and urban areas.


Nominations will be accepted October 7 through October 27, 2025. More information can be found on the
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Colorado Humanities Call for Nominations: Colorado’s 11th Poet Laureate webpage .


This program is a partnership between
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Colorado Creative Industries ,
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Colorado Humanities , and
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The Word, A Storytelling Sanctuary .



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More Information on Colorado's Poet Laureate

FIRST GENTLEMAN'S CORNER



First Gentleman Marlon Reis is hosting regular educational events at the Governor’s Mansion. Subject matter experts will present on the issue briefly, with time for audience Q&A afterwards.

Upcoming Speaker Series on Animal Issues:

- WHEN: Thursday, November 6, 2025 - 10:30am-12:00pm
- WHERE: The Governor’s Residence at the Boettcher Mansion, 400 E 8th Ave, Denver, CO, 8020
- ABOUT: Join our next Speaker Series on "VetHouse: Cracking the Case in Animal Medicine" with CSU Veterinary Health System.
- Please
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RSVP via this registration form if you plan to attend.

BIENNIAL OF THE AMERICAS EVENTS


Biennial Festival

Date: October 15-26 at 12:00-10:00 PM
Location: Writer Square - 1512 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80202


The Biennial activated vacant store fronts in the heart of downtown, bringing local artists and people from the Americas to showcase what our region has to offer our city.


This year’s
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Biennial festival will be a community-centered celebration that uplifts local voices and shared creativity. Rooted in connection and conversation, the programming will reflect the diversity and dynamism of our region and its connections to the Americas.


Please support the following artists at the Biennial Festival:
- Candy Store is an experimental exhibition by Jonathan Saiz, featuring thousands of miniature and affordable artworks by over 20 Colorado artists.
- Matter’s Reading Room invites readers, listeners, performers, and writers into a dynamic space for creative exchange.
- Liberation Movement is a vibrant fusion of sound, movement, and radical self-expression led by local artists and activists.
- Esteban Azuela, in partnership with Denver Digerati, presents hybrid works that blur fiction and documentary, combining hand-drawn animation, 3D scanning, and stop-motion to explore violence, memory, and masculinity in Mexico City.
- M68 is a collective space aimed at promoting the growth of emerging independent brands from Latin America.
- Anduba will showcase the Ganado Tapestry pattern, created in collaboration with Dine (Navajo) artist JayCee Begay, reimagining traditional Navajo weaving techniques through a contemporary lens.Closing Party of Biennial Festival
Date: Sunday, Oct. 26, from 12–5pm
Location: Writer Square - 1512 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80202


Enjoy Olta Whiskey, Mezcal & crafted cocktails, the Shop at MATTER pop-up, Gato Waffles, M68 featuring emerging Latin American brands, and a Candy Store “super sweet” sale!


All are invited — friends, kids, and fur babies welcome.
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Help us spread the word and close out the festival in true Biennial style!


EVENTS & NEWS CORNER


🍴The Dinner Table


Youth on Record (YOR) is turning its attention from the stage to the dinner table. In response to the potential halt of SNAP due to the federal government shutdown, and the rising costs of feeding families, the Denver-based arts and youth development nonprofit is launching
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The Dinner Table Project , a temporary food campaign that will work to galvanize support from the music community to ensure that local kids, youth, and families have dinner on the table each week through December 2025.

Drop-off Donations: Mondays & Tuesdays, 12:00–4:00 PM
Volunteer Meal Boxing: Tuesdays, 4:00–6:00 PM (
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Sign up here )
Location: Youth on Record, 1292 W. 10th Avenue, Denver, CO


🍺Calling All Colorado Artists: Colorado Pint Day


Get ready, Colorado artists!
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Colorado Pint Day is celebrating its 11th year in 2026, and we’re looking for your incredible talent to create the official glassware artwork. This annual event is a huge hit with a massive following, and over 200 breweries participated in 2025 alone.


Submit your portfolio via the
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RFP form by Sunday, November 9, 2025.


The selected artist will receive $1000 for their approved Pint Day artwork, which will be proudly featured on the official 2026 Colorado Pint Day glassware.

📰America 250- Colorado 150 Newsletter Sign-Up


As we continue building momentum toward Colorado’s 150th and America’s 250th anniversaries in 2026, we encourage everyone to stay informed and engaged with the latest America 250 - Colorado 150 news, events, and opportunities. This newsletter is designed for a statewide audience; anyone who signs up will receive updates, stories, and ways to participate in the commemoration on the first of each month:
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Link to sign up for the newsletter.

JOB OPENINGS



The State of Colorado has implemented a
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hiring freeze to help save money and stabilize the State budget. Effective on August 27, 2025 until December 31, 2025, the Governor ordered state agencies in his purview to stop posting for new job opportunities with start dates in 2025.

PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS


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Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month (October 13)

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A Message from Governor Polis (September 11)

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Keeping the Broncos in Denver, Colorado (September 10)

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Taking Swift Action to Ensure Easy Access to COVID-19 Vaccines for Coloradans (September 8)

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Celebrating the State Fair & Update on Special Session (August 28)

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Fire Safety and Awareness and Update (August 15)












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