State Business Incentives

As a business looking to expand in Colorado, the State offers tax credit, funding, and job training programs to support your growth and expansion.

Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT)

Opportunity Zone

Over half of Rio Blanco County is located within an Opportunity Zone. Opportunity Zones were enacted as part of the 2017 tax reform package (Tax Cuts and Jobs Act) to address uneven economic recovery and persistent lack of growth that have left many communities across the country behind. This economic and community development tax incentive program provides a new impetus for private investors to support distressed communities through private equity investments in businesses and real estate ventures. The incentive is deferral, reduction and potential elimination of certain federal capital gains taxes. Learn more about Opportunity Zones here.Opportunity Zone

Rural Jump-Start

Rio Blanco County, CO offers businesses that will provide a new product or service to Colorado with a powerful set of tax credits that could eliminate your Colorado State Income Tax liability for a minimum of four years. Depending on eligibility, business owners can share that tax holiday with their employees as well, fully maximizing your ability to Jump Start your business in Rio Blanco County! Learn more about Rural Jump-Start here.Rural Jump-Start

Enterprise Zone Tax Credits

Enterprise Zone Tax Credits are available to business owners in Meeker, Rangely and the unincorporated areas of Rio Blanco County.  This Program is designed to promote a business-friendly environment by offering state income tax credits that incentivize job opportunities, capital investment in your business, job training programs, employer sponsored health insurance, research and development, building rehabilitation, commercial vehicle investment, and financial contributions to community projects.

Learn more about Enterprise Zone Tax Credits here.Enterprise Zone Tax Credits

To view the full list of state incentives: www.choosecolorado.com

USDA Rural Development

Business Programs provide financial backing and technical assistance to stimulate business creation and growth. The programs work through partnerships with public and private community based organizations and financial institutions to provide financial assistance, business development, and technical assistance to rural businesses. These programs help to provide capital, equipment, space, job training, and entrepreneurial skills that can help to start and/or grow a business.  Business Programs also support the creation and preservation of quality jobs in rural areas.

Below is a link to the main Rural Development program page with links to our various loan and grant programs.

https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-programs

Rural Business and Development Grants

Through this program rural public and non-profit entities can qualify for grant funds to provide multiple types of economic development assistance from training and technical assistance to community economic development, including feasibility studies, business plans, establish business incubators and revolving loan funds.  Please see the website and attached fact sheet for more details.RBDG Fact Sheet

https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-programs/rural-business-development-grants

Rural Energy for America Program

This program provides grant and loan funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements.  Guaranteed Loans under this program can fund larger scale renewable energy systems such as Biomass, Geothermal, Hydropower, as well as small and larger wind and solar generation.  Please see the website and attached fact sheet for more details.REAP Fact Sheet

https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/energy-programs/rural-energy-america-program-renewable-energy-systems-energy-efficiency-improvement-guaranteed-loans

Value Added Producer Grants

Through this program, the Agency provides funding directly to agricultural producers to help fund value-added activities such as new product development & launch, emerging market penetration and market expansion activities.  Please see the website and attached fact sheet for more details.REPG Fact Sheet

https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-programs/value-added-producer-grants