At OEDIT, we know the profound impact rural communities and businesses have on our state. By empowering Coloradans to thrive in our economy, we can continue to make advancements for all. Let’s review a variety of ways OEDIT supports rural regions.
- Rural Jump-Start (RJS) Program
The RJS program provides tax relief and grant support to entrepreneurs starting or moving their businesses to rural counties, classified as Rural Jump-Start zones in Colorado. Thirty-five counties have formed Rural Jump-Start zones, helping to create more jobs and new businesses. Last year, the program supported 29 businesses, which is expected to create 212 new jobs.
- Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network
Dedicated to serving small businesses across all of Colorado through 14 service centers and 28 satellite offices, the SBDC network provides resources and support to Colorado’s small business and entrepreneurs starting, expanding, growing and exiting their businesses. In 2024, the SBDC supported the creation of 474 new businesses and 2,150 new jobs while helping to retain over 2,000 existing jobs.
- Employee Ownership Tax Credit
As a leading state for employee owned businesses, Colorado supports business owners across the state looking to convert to or expand employee ownership. The Employee Ownership Tax Credit helps fund the costs of expansion or transition to employee ownership for current Colorado-headquartered businesses and employees. Forty-five percent of companies that apply for this credit hail from rural Colorado. And starting in 2026, an additional Employee Ownership Tax Credit will support the ongoing success of new employee-owned businesses.
- Enterprise Zone (EZ) Program
To help create new jobs and provide training to employees, the EZ program encourages businesses to locate to and expand in designated zones with high unemployment rates, low per capita income or slow population growth. Businesses located in Enhanced Rural Enterprise Zones can receive additional funding for each new employee hired to encourage job growth. In fiscal year 2023-2024 alone, 5,538 businesses invested and expanded in Enterprise Zones, creating over 6,000 net new jobs for Coloradans.
- Partner Outreach Program (POP)
POP is a network of partners that connects Colorado small business owners to OEDIT programs. These partners have expertise in serving small businesses, helping entrepreneurs secure funding to grow their businesses. Collectively, the POP network serves 90% of the state, from the Western Slope to the rural Eastern Plains and southern Colorado.
- Colorado State Outdoor Recreation Grant (COSORG)
These grants, made possible by funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) State Tourism Grant, awarded funds to 49 regional nonprofits, local governments and educational organizations across the state to advance Colorado’s outdoor recreation industry. The largest infrastructure project to receive COSORG funding helped the Panadero Ski Corporation reopen Cuchara Mountain Park, a ski area in Huerfano County that had been closed since 2000.
- OREC Rural Technical Assistance Program (RTAP)
RTAP offers a hands-on opportunity for graduate students from the Masters of the Environment program at CU Boulder to assist in planning for local outdoor recreation development in rural communities. This partnership with the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office (OREC), a division of OEDIT, CSU Extension and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Recreation Economy for Rural Communities program brought graduate students and community members together in Lake City, Huerfano County, and Rangely in 2024.
- Colorado Community Revitalization Grant
To encourage creativity and economic diversification within communities, the Colorado Community Revitalization Grant supported projects that create mixed-use spaces, including creative workspaces, housing, performance space, community gathering spaces, child care centers and/or other spaces for creators. This grant assisted 59 new developments, with 58% in rural communities. The program’s impact is set to continue through the newly established Colorado Community Revitalization Tax Credit (CRTC) program, which offers income tax credits for expenses incurred in completing infrastructure projects that support creative industries and creative industry workers.
- Folk and Traditional Arts Project Grant
The Folk and Traditional Arts Project Grant supports the creation, presentation, or teaching of folk and traditional arts, and/or the documentation of folk or traditional arts. As a celebration of Colorado, this program helps preserve, celebrate and document the local artistic traditions and heritage of unique Colorado communities, from Archuleta to Larimer counties and Huerfano to Denver counties.
- Space to Create Colorado
Space to Create is the nation’s first state-led initiative to develop affordable housing for artists and creatives in rural areas. These live-work and commercial spaces help promote individual and economic growth for creative industry workers and their communities. Space to Create will support nine rural communities in Colorado, and in 2022 and 2023, Trinidad and Ridgway opened their spaces to creatives.
- Destination Stewardship Strategic Plan
Established to balance the quality of life for residents with the visitor experience, the Destination Stewardship Strategic Plan seeks to safeguard Colorado's natural environment, cultural heritage and communities. These groundbreaking state and regional plans resulted from the involvement of over 1,000 stakeholders across Colorado, providing communities and leaders with comprehensive guidance, resources and strategies to protect and enhance the state for future generations.
- Colorado Dark Sky Certification Mentor Program
Across Colorado, industry partners and state parks are participating in the Dark Sky program to reduce light pollution and protect the night skies. The program offers free consulting from DarkSky Colorado to help participants advance their efforts in achieving International Dark Sky Place certification. The program encourages community members and visitors to explore hidden gems only found in rural regions.
- Film Exposure Program
Providing rural high school students real world experience in the film industry, the Film Exposure Program gives students the opportunity to collaborate, write, produce, film and edit a feature with guidance from film industry professionals. This program additionally provides resources for future career pathways in film. During the 2024-2025 school year, the Film Exposure program served 58 students.
- State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) Grant
The STEP grant helps small businesses in Colorado increase international export sales by funding their international business development activities. In the 2023-2024 fiscal year, this grant, funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration, supported 54 companies’ development through international trade shows, international business meetings, marketing and market research.
By supporting rural communities through these 14 programs and additional OEDIT funding opportunities, we can continue to advance Colorado’s economy as a whole. Rural communities, economic development offices, business support organizations, and small businesses are welcome to connect with OEDIT's Rural Opportunity Office (ROO) to get connected to relevant OEDIT and State Partner programs. A resilient economy starts with every region.
To explore more OEDIT programs for rural communities, visit our Programs and Funding page.