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Highlight any changes from above that the State agency is making to the E&T program based on the prior year’s performance, for instance changes made as a result of E&T outcome and participation data. Based on analysis of prior year performance and outcome data, Colorado has encouraged Employment and Training Program Operators (EF POs) to narrow their focus by tailoring the components they offer, the populations they serve, and the geographic areas and industries they engage with—limiting their scope to one or two key areas within each category. This shift reflects findings that EF POs with specialized service delivery models, such as those focusing on culinary arts training for returning citizens and Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs), produce stronger client outcomes compared to those with broader, less targeted approaches. As a result of these data-driven insights, the State has promoted a more focused approach among EF POs, which has contributed to funding requests remaining stable or slightly decreasing. Additionally, the number of counties offering EF programs has decreased from 64 to 27, reflecting a strategic consolidation to improve program effectiveness and resource allocation. In response to participation and engagement challenges identified in the prior year, CDHS partnered in 2024 with the Food and Nutrition Service’s Management and Program Review Office (FNS MPRO) and the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) to launch the Paving Access to Careers and Employment (PACE) pilot program. This initiative is designed to increase program engagement by assessing, supporting, and directing SNAP clients to local EF programs and other appropriate employment and training services. CDLE, as the program intermediary, provides administrative oversight, monitoring, and reporting across 10 workforce regions, offering services both in-person and virtually. The State EF team closely tracked PACE’s progress during FFY25 to determine optimal service delivery areas for expansion in the upcoming year. Moving forward, the State and PACE will collaborate with SNAP eligibility teams to ensure appropriate referrals in select counties, with a goal to serve 600 clients this fiscal year. These adjustments reflect a data-informed strategy to improve participant engagement and streamline service delivery. 5