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● Staffing and overall planning, implementation, and operations

● Direct program expenses, such as: o Case management services o Administrative functions, such as working on reports and attending training

3. 50/50 Participant Reimbursement

50/50 Participant Reimbursement can be spent during the FFY (October - September). The funding stream comprises 50 percent federal funds and 50 percent EF PO funds.

50/50 Participant Reimbursement funds can be spent on participant expenses that are reasonable, necessary, and directly related to participation in employment and training activities (also known as supportive payments). Please reference the Supportive Payments section of this handbook for allowable participant reimbursement expenses.

4. 80/20 Participant Reimbursement

80/20 participant reimbursement funding is available from July to June every year. These participant reimbursement funds are allocated to county human services departments to help partially cover the cost of reimbursing EF clients for necessary expenses tied to program participation. The naming convention of "80/20" represents 50% federal dollars ($130,725), 30% State dollars ($78,435), and 20% county dollars ($52,290).

Employment First Allocation Methodology

Colorado allocates EF funding using different approaches for county human services departments and TPPs.

Historically, Colorado allocated EF funding only to county human services departments. These allocations were based primarily on each county’s number of SNAP work registrants, and counties directly provided employment and training services to eligible SNAP applicants and recipients.

In 2019, Colorado expanded its EF funding model to include non-county service providers. Through a competitive bidding process, Colorado began awarding 50/50 Administrative reimbursement funding and 50/50 Participant Reimbursement funding to qualified non-profit, for-profit, and private organizations. These entities, referred to as Third-Party Partners (TPPs), provide employment and training services or have the capacity to do so in coordination with counties. TPPs enhance service delivery by expanding capacity and helping engage additional eligible SNAP work registrants.

For FFY2026, Colorado will continue to allocate EF funding to county human services departments based on the number of SNAP work registrants and the budgets Last updated: July 9, 2026

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