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Colorado plans to operate a Section 20 Optional Workfare program in Federal Fiscal Year 2026 (FFY26) for work registrants. County Departments of Human Services (DHS) that operate the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program’s Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) program, known as Employment First (EF) in Colorado, have the option to operate a Section 20 Optional Workfare Program. At the time of this plan submission, the Section 20 Optional Workfare Program will operate in 16 of Colorado’s 64 counties for FFY26.

Colorado’s philosophy is that workfare provides a stepping stone to paid employment while providing valuable service to the community. Through a robust network of workfare sites, Colorado can connect clients with a wide array of employers where they can build relevant skills and gain valuable work experience. In FFY26, Colorado will continue to align, where possible, workfare sites with Colorado’s key industries to meet local business needs and ensure that the skill development directly ties to the interest and aptitude of each client and the local labor market.

Colorado's key industries include:

Healthcare and Social Assistance Administrative Support and Waste Management Remediation Services Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Retail Trade Manufacturing Accommodation and Food Service Educational Services Finance and Insurance Information Construction Wholesale Trade In FFY26, the Section 20 Optional Workfare Program will operate as a voluntary program. As a voluntary program, any eligible work registrant can access program services. Work registrants will not be sanctioned for electing not to participate in the Section 20 Optional Workfare Program. The table below lists each county DHS with a Section 20 Optional Workfare Program, and the number of workfare sites in the county.

Adams (8) Arapahoe (44) Boulder (5) Broomfield (4) Weld (5) Denver (24) Douglas (36) Eagle (2) Garfield (13) Jefferson (22) Larimer (2) Logan (18) Prowers (7) Chaffee (1) Montrose (11) Morgan (19)

Colorado has 234 workfare sites statewide. County DHS continues to identify, develop, and contract with value-added workforce sites. The local workfare coordinator in each County DHS department develops its own Section 20 Optional Workfare sites. The EF program tracks the workfare sites each County DHS utilizes, averaging roughly 14 workfare sites per county. 1