Agricultural Workforce Development Program

The Agricultural Workforce Development Program is a statewide grant initiative administered by the Colorado Department of Agriculture. It is designed to strengthen Colorado’s agricultural workforce pipeline by encouraging hands-on training opportunities for new and beginning agricultural professionals. This initiative supports Colorado-based farms, ranches, and agricultural businesses by helping them hire and train interns who are either students, recent graduates, or beginning farmers and ranchers with less than 10 years of experience. The program provides financial incentives to eligible businesses to facilitate meaningful agricultural internships. Each business may apply for up to three internships per year and can receive reimbursement of up to 50 percent of actual employment costs for each intern, capped at $5,000 per intern. Reimbursable expenses include intern wages, employer payroll taxes, workers’ compensation insurance, and related overhead costs. However, at least 75 percent of reimbursed funds must go directly to the intern. Internships funded through this program must last no longer than one year, offer at least 130 hours of educational work experience, and comply with prevailing minimum wage laws. Businesses must demonstrate compliance with applicable labor and occupational safety laws and maintain operations physically located in Colorado. Interns must be at least 18 years old, cannot be past or current employees or relatives of business owners, and must not displace existing employees. Applications for the 2025-2026 program cycle are open from October 1 through October 31, 2025. Applicants must submit their materials via the AccessGov portal by 5:00 p.m. MDT on the deadline. An informational webinar was held on October 8, 2025. CDA will notify successful applicants by mid-December 2025, with internship agreements finalized that month. Internships may begin as early as January 1, 2026, and must be completed by December 31, 2026. Businesses will receive reimbursement in one lump sum after submitting required documentation, including intern timesheets and final surveys. The program was created through Senate Bill 18-042 and extended through July 2029 under House Bill 23-1094. Its aim is to align education, training, and work-based learning to ensure a sustainable future for Colorado’s agricultural industry. Businesses interested in participating should ensure they meet compliance standards and can provide the required supervision, insurance, and educational value for interns. Additional information is available through the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s workforce division.

Businesses must not assign interns who are past employees or family members; 75% of funds must go directly to the intern; compliance with wage, insurance, and employment laws is mandatory