![Andrea Blankenship](/sites/coedit/files/styles/contact_crop/public/2020-02/Blankenship_Andrea.jpg?h=a6670270)
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Program Manager
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Program Manager
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Related Programs
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Program Manager
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Related Programs
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The Rural Jump-Start Program is a collaborative effort by the state, local governments, Institutes of Higher Education (IHE), and economic development organizations (EDO) to incentivize new businesses to start in or move to rural, economically distressed counties in Colorado, which are referred to as Rural Jump-Start zones, and hire new employees.
Rural Jump-Start began in 2016 as a tax incentive program, and in 2021 a grant program was created, for businesses located in a Rural Jump-Start zone. To be eligible, businesses cannot be operating in the State of Colorado at the time of application and cannot compete with similar businesses in the county where they are locating or an adjacent economically distressed county. If you are a business interested in participating in this program, please review all program qualifications, discussed in greater detail under the Business Eligibility section below, before applying.
Tax benefits include relief from:
- State income tax for the new business;
- State sales and use tax for the new business;
- County personal property tax for the new business;
- Municipal personal property tax for the new business (in participating municipalities); and
- State income tax for qualified New Hires.
Grant benefits are dependent on the business' location:
- If a business is located in a Rural-Jump Start zone, businesses can receive a matching grant of up to $20,000 as a newly established business and up to $2,500 per New Hire.
- If a business is located in a Rural-Jump Start zone that is also a Tier 1 Just Transition community, businesses can receive a matching grant of up to $40,000 as a newly established business and up to $5,000 per New Hire.
The Rural Jump-Start Program will accept applications for the tax benefits through December 31, 2025 and for the grant benefits through June 30, 2024.
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Overview
Type: Tax credit and grant program
For: Businesses located in Rural Jump-Start zones located in economically distressed, rural counties
Amount: Tax relief plus grants up to $40,000 per new business, up to $5,000 per New Hire
Application deadline: Rolling
OEDIT division: Business Funding and Incentives
Review the Rural Jump-Start Statute, (PDF).
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The Rural Jump-Start Program is a collaborative effort by the state, local governments, Institutes of Higher Education (IHE), and economic development organizations (EDO) to incentivize new businesses to start in or move to rural, economically distressed counties in Colorado, which are referred to as Rural Jump-Start zones, and hire new employees.
Rural Jump-Start began in 2016 as a tax incentive program, and in 2021 a grant program was created, for businesses located in a Rural Jump-Start zone. To be eligible, businesses cannot be operating in the State of Colorado at the time of application and cannot compete with similar businesses in the county where they are locating or an adjacent economically distressed county. If you are a business interested in participating in this program, please review all program qualifications, discussed in greater detail under the Business Eligibility section below, before applying.
Tax benefits include relief from:
- State income tax for the new business;
- State sales and use tax for the new business;
- County personal property tax for the new business;
- Municipal personal property tax for the new business (in participating municipalities); and
- State income tax for qualified New Hires.
Grant benefits are dependent on the business' location:
- If a business is located in a Rural-Jump Start zone, businesses can receive a matching grant of up to $20,000 as a newly established business and up to $2,500 per New Hire.
- If a business is located in a Rural-Jump Start zone that is also a Tier 1 Just Transition community, businesses can receive a matching grant of up to $40,000 as a newly established business and up to $5,000 per New Hire.
The Rural Jump-Start Program will accept applications for the tax benefits through December 31, 2025 and for the grant benefits through June 30, 2024.
OverviewType: Tax credit and grant program
For: Businesses located in Rural Jump-Start zones located in economically distressed, rural counties
Amount: Tax relief plus grants up to $40,000 per new business, up to $5,000 per New Hire
Application deadline: Rolling
OEDIT division: Business Funding and Incentives
Review the Rural Jump-Start Statute, (PDF).
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Eligible businesses
Your business needs to:
- be in at least one rural jump-start zone
- not directly compete with the core function of a currently operating Colorado business in an adjacent economically distressed county – for example, a coffee shop would not qualify unless there were no other coffee shops in that county or adjacent county
- plan to hire at least five new positions (that are not existing jobs moving to the rural jump-start zone)
- export goods and services outside the county
- form a relationship with a sponsor entity to align missions and benefit the community
- meet one of these criteria:
- be a startup company
- be moving your business or new division to Colorado
- start a new joint venture between companies and/or creating a new and necessary division
Eligible businesses can be at any of these stages:
- planning
- fundraising
- recruiting
- doing market research
- preparing for production (design, prototyping)
- filing business formation or registration
- manufacturing and testing a proof of concept, even if some revenue is associated with the activity
Your business may locate in multiple rural jump-start zones and receive benefits in each zone. You need to apply to each zone separately.
After the Colorado Economic Development Commission (EDC) approves your application, you need to fulfill hiring requirements to receive tax benefits. The table below outlines the hiring requirements for each year.
Year Hiring requirements First full calendar year after EDC approval 1 new hire Second full calendar year after EDC approval 3 new hires All years after 5 new hires Eligible employees
Approved employees may claim the 100% tax credit for state income taxes on wages from new businesses in the rural jump-start zone. Generally, the Colorado Economic Development Commission (EDC) will approve up to 200 new hires per rural jump-start zone to claim the tax credit. In some cases, the EDC will raise the limit to 300 new hires per zone. Other than this zone limit, there is no limit on the number of new hires at a single business who can claim the tax credit.
To claim this tax credit, an employee needs to:
- receive a W-2 from the business
- be legally allowed to work in the United States
- be a resident of Colorado
- be designated as a new hire by the Rural Jump-Start Program
- work for at least six months in the rural jump-start zone
- work at least 35 hours per week
- have a higher salary (calculated as the sum of wages and benefits) than the county average annual wage
Employees who work in multiple locations will qualify only if they spend at least 80% of their non-travel time at the location inside the rural jump-start zone. Employees do not have to live in the rural jump-start zone.
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Eligible businesses and employees
Eligible businesses
Your business needs to:
- be in at least one rural jump-start zone
- not directly compete with the core function of a currently operating Colorado business in an adjacent economically distressed county – for example, a coffee shop would not qualify unless there were no other coffee shops in that county or adjacent county
- plan to hire at least five new positions (that are not existing jobs moving to the rural jump-start zone)
- export goods and services outside the county
- form a relationship with a sponsor entity to align missions and benefit the community
- meet one of these criteria:
- be a startup company
- be moving your business or new division to Colorado
- start a new joint venture between companies and/or creating a new and necessary division
Eligible businesses can be at any of these stages:
- planning
- fundraising
- recruiting
- doing market research
- preparing for production (design, prototyping)
- filing business formation or registration
- manufacturing and testing a proof of concept, even if some revenue is associated with the activity
Your business may locate in multiple rural jump-start zones and receive benefits in each zone. You need to apply to each zone separately.
After the Colorado Economic Development Commission (EDC) approves your application, you need to fulfill hiring requirements to receive tax benefits. The table below outlines the hiring requirements for each year.
Year Hiring requirements First full calendar year after EDC approval 1 new hire Second full calendar year after EDC approval 3 new hires All years after 5 new hires Eligible employees
Approved employees may claim the 100% tax credit for state income taxes on wages from new businesses in the rural jump-start zone. Generally, the Colorado Economic Development Commission (EDC) will approve up to 200 new hires per rural jump-start zone to claim the tax credit. In some cases, the EDC will raise the limit to 300 new hires per zone. Other than this zone limit, there is no limit on the number of new hires at a single business who can claim the tax credit.
To claim this tax credit, an employee needs to:
- receive a W-2 from the business
- be legally allowed to work in the United States
- be a resident of Colorado
- be designated as a new hire by the Rural Jump-Start Program
- work for at least six months in the rural jump-start zone
- work at least 35 hours per week
- have a higher salary (calculated as the sum of wages and benefits) than the county average annual wage
Employees who work in multiple locations will qualify only if they spend at least 80% of their non-travel time at the location inside the rural jump-start zone. Employees do not have to live in the rural jump-start zone.
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To apply for this program, the new business needs to work with either:
- a Designated Institute of Higher Education (DIHE)
- an approved economic development office
Examples of new business and sponsor entity relationships include, but are not limited to, a business:
- leasing the property from the sponsor entity or locates on or adjacent to the campus
- licensing intellectual property from the DIHE
- funding or sponsors research that relates to the business’s product or service development or testing
- employing faculty, staff, students, or recent graduates of the sponsor entity as full- or part-time workers or consultants
- using specialized facilities at the sponsor entity in developing products or services
Approved economic development offices
These economic development offices have been approved:
- Logan County Economic Development Organization
- Lincoln County Economic Development Organization
- City of Craig Economic Development
- Community Economic Development of Sedgwick County
- Morgan County Economic Development
- Region 9 Economic Development District of Southwest Colorado
- Routt County Economic Development Partnership
- San Luis Valley Development Resources Group
- Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association
If your economic development organization would like to become approved, please contact the program manager below to start the process.
Interactive map of Designated Institutes of Higher Education
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Sponsor entities
To apply for this program, the new business needs to work with either:
- a Designated Institute of Higher Education (DIHE)
- an approved economic development office
Examples of new business and sponsor entity relationships include, but are not limited to, a business:
- leasing the property from the sponsor entity or locates on or adjacent to the campus
- licensing intellectual property from the DIHE
- funding or sponsors research that relates to the business’s product or service development or testing
- employing faculty, staff, students, or recent graduates of the sponsor entity as full- or part-time workers or consultants
- using specialized facilities at the sponsor entity in developing products or services
Approved economic development offices
These economic development offices have been approved:
- Logan County Economic Development Organization
- Lincoln County Economic Development Organization
- City of Craig Economic Development
- Community Economic Development of Sedgwick County
- Morgan County Economic Development
- Region 9 Economic Development District of Southwest Colorado
- Routt County Economic Development Partnership
- San Luis Valley Development Resources Group
- Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association
If your economic development organization would like to become approved, please contact the program manager below to start the process.
Interactive map of Designated Institutes of Higher Education
To use this map, type in your address and it will direct you to the closest Designated Institute of Higher Education.
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Each year, the Colorado Economic Development Commission (EDC) designates economically distressed counties. If you are a county or municipality that is interested in learning more about establishing a new rural jump-start zone, you can review the requirements of becoming a zone and learn how to apply.
Rural Jump-Start counties
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Eligible Rural Jump-Start counties and Just Transition communities
Each year, the Colorado Economic Development Commission (EDC) designates economically distressed counties. If you are a county or municipality that is interested in learning more about establishing a new rural jump-start zone, you can review the requirements of becoming a zone and learn how to apply.
Rural Jump-Start counties
These counties are currently rural jump-start zones: Archuleta, Clear Creek, Delta, Dolores, Fremont, Garfield, Huerfano, Las Animas, Lincoln, Logan, Mesa, Moffat, Montezuma, Montrose, Otero, Prowers, Pueblo, Rio Blanco, Routt, San Juan, Sedgwick
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Businesses must apply through a sponsor entity. A sponsor entity is associated with specific counties, and not every sponsor entity can work in every rural jump-start zone.
Complete these steps to apply for the program.
- Complete the qualifying questionnaire through the OEDIT application portal. Log in to your account or create a new account. To protect your personal information, we manually add new users to the portal, so it may take several days to activate your account.
- After completing your qualifying questionnaire, you will be able to complete the full application in the OEDIT application portal.
- The sponsor entity reviews the application, then sends it to us to review. The Colorado Economic Development Commission (EDC) has final approval on applications. The EDC meets on the third Thursday of every month.
- During a one-month waiting period, an existing Colorado business in an adjacent county may challenge your application if they believe your company would directly compete with the existing company’s core function.
- If no one challenges your application, your application will be reviewed by the EDC. If another business challenges your application, we review the challenge and make a decision as to whether or not to move forward with your application or deny your application.
- To claim the state credits, file Form 104CR (PDF) with the Colorado Department of Revenue.
Application materials
You will need to submit these documents with your online application:
- PDF of your business plan, including:
- business description including customers and competitors in Colorado, how your business adds to the economic base, and your business plan to export outside the county
- pro-forma income statement for the next three years
- income statement and balance sheet for the last three years, if applicable
- a forecast of total employees and new hires at the end of each calendar year for the next five years
- percent of sales in Colorado, outside of Colorado in the U.S., and outside the U.S.
- articles of incorporation or organization
- statement of Good Standing from the Colorado Secretary of State
- business taxpayer ID number
- six-digit North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code
- business contact information and mailing address
- type of ownership and subsequent list of owners
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How to apply and claim your tax credit
Businesses must apply through a sponsor entity. A sponsor entity is associated with specific counties, and not every sponsor entity can work in every rural jump-start zone.
Complete these steps to apply for the program.
- Complete the qualifying questionnaire through the OEDIT application portal. Log in to your account or create a new account. To protect your personal information, we manually add new users to the portal, so it may take several days to activate your account.
- After completing your qualifying questionnaire, you will be able to complete the full application in the OEDIT application portal.
- The sponsor entity reviews the application, then sends it to us to review. The Colorado Economic Development Commission (EDC) has final approval on applications. The EDC meets on the third Thursday of every month.
- During a one-month waiting period, an existing Colorado business in an adjacent county may challenge your application if they believe your company would directly compete with the existing company’s core function.
- If no one challenges your application, your application will be reviewed by the EDC. If another business challenges your application, we review the challenge and make a decision as to whether or not to move forward with your application or deny your application.
- To claim the state credits, file Form 104CR (PDF) with the Colorado Department of Revenue.
Application materials
You will need to submit these documents with your online application:
- PDF of your business plan, including:
- business description including customers and competitors in Colorado, how your business adds to the economic base, and your business plan to export outside the county
- pro-forma income statement for the next three years
- income statement and balance sheet for the last three years, if applicable
- a forecast of total employees and new hires at the end of each calendar year for the next five years
- percent of sales in Colorado, outside of Colorado in the U.S., and outside the U.S.
- articles of incorporation or organization
- statement of Good Standing from the Colorado Secretary of State
- business taxpayer ID number
- six-digit North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code
- business contact information and mailing address
- type of ownership and subsequent list of owners
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If you have an existing Colorado business and believe a Rural Jump-Start business applicant would directly compete with your company’s core function, you may challenge the application before the Colorado Economic Development Commission approves it. To challenge a business application, please contact the program manager.
Open applications
The Rural Jump-Start Program has received an application from a company producing healthy, sustainable granola bars made with plant-based compostable packaging. This company is expanding into a new warehouse facility which will allow distribution on a greater scale. If you know of any company that would compete with this applicant in Garfield, Jackson, Moffat, Rio Blanco or Routt counties, please contact Andrea Blankenship at andrea.blankenship@state.co.us.
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Challenge a business application
If you have an existing Colorado business and believe a Rural Jump-Start business applicant would directly compete with your company’s core function, you may challenge the application before the Colorado Economic Development Commission approves it. To challenge a business application, please contact the program manager.
Open applications
The Rural Jump-Start Program has received an application from a company producing healthy, sustainable granola bars made with plant-based compostable packaging. This company is expanding into a new warehouse facility which will allow distribution on a greater scale. If you know of any company that would compete with this applicant in Garfield, Jackson, Moffat, Rio Blanco or Routt counties, please contact Andrea Blankenship at andrea.blankenship@state.co.us.
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Below is an overview of the four main steps a county/municipality must go through to become designated as a Rural Jump-Start zone.
Step 1: Receive designation as an economically distressed, rural county by the Colorado Economic Development Commission (EDC)
Step 2: Engage with a Sponsoring Entity
Step 3: Pass County and Municipality Tax Relief Resolutions
Step 4: Apply in Salesforce to Become a Rural Jump-Start Zone
Details for each of the four steps are explained in more depth below.
Step 1:
Receive designation as an economically distressed, rural county by the Colorado Economic Development Commission (EDC)
An area will qualify as a Rural Jump-Start zone based on population and economically distressed measures, as explained below.
Population
The area needs to be in a county with a population of fewer than 250,000 people.
Economic distress measures
Rural Jump-Start zones MUST meet at least three of these requirements:
- Per capita income is at least 20% below the state average;
- County-wide personal income is at least 20% below the state average;
- Average unemployment level during the last five years is at least 20% above the state average;
- During the past 5 to 10 years, the area lost population in the workforce age range;
- Percent of students eligible for free school lunch is higher than the state average;
- Designated as an Enhanced Rural Enterprise Zone; or
- Be in a metropolitan statistical area as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau.
The EDC can approve an unlimited number of Rural Jump-Start zones. Each municipality can contain only one Rural Jump-Start zone. A zone may not be larger than a county. Once the EDC approves a Rural Jump-Start zone, the zone will exist until the county loses its economically distressed status.
Current Rural Jump-Start Zones/Counties
These counties are currently Rural Jump-Start zones: Alamosa, Archuleta, Clear Creek, Costilla, Conejos, Delta, Dolores, Fremont, Garfield, Huerfano, Kiowa, Kit Carson; La Plata, Lake, Las Animas, Lincoln, Logan, Mesa, Moffat, Montezuma, Montrose, Morgan, Otero, Phillips, Prowers, Pueblo, Rio Blanco, Rio Grande, Routt, San Juan, Sedgwick, and Yuma
These counties are designated as economically distressed and are eligible to be Rural Jump-Start zones, but they have not yet applied to the program: Baca, Bent, Cheyenne, Crowley, Custer, Hinsdale, Jackson, Mineral, Saguache, and Washington.
Tier 1 Just Transition Communities
Tier 1 Just Transition communities are diversifying away from coal-dependent economic development strategies and receive double the relief as regular Rural Jump-Start Zones. Tier 1 Just Transition communities include Moffat, western Montrose, Morgan, Pueblo, Rio Blanco, and Routt.
Step 2:
Engage with a Sponsoring Entity
Counties and municipalities will need to work with a sponsor entity to establish a Rural Jump-Start zone. Sponsoring entities are either:
- An approved economic development organization; or
- A designated institute of higher education.
These economic development offices have been approved:
- City of Craig Economic Development
- Clear Creek Economic Development Corporation
- Community Economic Development of Sedgwick County
- Kiowa County Economic Development Foundation (KCEDF)
- Logan County Economic Development Organization
- Lincoln County Economic Development Organization
- Morgan County Economic Development
- Phillips County Economic Development
- Prowers Economic Prosperity
- Region 9 Economic Development District of Southwest Colorado
- Routt County Economic Development Partnership
- San Luis Valley Development Resources Group
- Southern Colorado Economic Development District
- Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association
- West End Economic Development Corporation
- Yuma County Economic Development Corporation
A Designated Institute of Higher Education (DIHE) can also lead the Rural Jump-Start zone application. Only a public school may serve as a DIHE. A private higher education institution may participate as a partner, but not lead an application.
To use this map, type in your address and it will direct you to the closest Designated Institute of Higher Education.
Eligible organizations may apply to be a sponsor entity before or while forming a Rural Jump-Start zone through the OEDIT Salesforce portal. Log in or create a new account. New users are manually added to the portal for security reasons, so it may take several days to activate your account.
Application Materials
In the application, the entity needs to prove that it:
- Intends to actively execute in its role in the rural jump-start zone;
- Has the resources to manage the program; and
- Has designated a point person to work with businesses and our office.
Every entity must:
- Maintain a strategic plan for the Rural Jump-Start zone;
- Adopt a conflict of interest policy and keep a written record of all conflict of interest disclosures; and
- Provide disclosures for the last calendar year to the Colorado Economic Development Commission (EDC) by January 31 of each year.
The conflict of interest policy needs to state that:
- A representative of the entity may not use the relationship between the entity and the business for the representative’s private benefit;
- A person who sells goods or services to the entity, an employee of such person, or a person with a business interest in such person’s business shall not vote on or participate on behalf of the entity in any transaction with such business; and
- If a representative of the entity is aware of any actual or potential conflict of interest, he or she shall advise the chief academic officers or executive director of the entity of the conflict.
Review process
After the sponsoring entity submits its application, the EDC will review it at the next meeting, which is held on the third Thursday of every month. The EDC will approve, deny, or defer the application. The sponsor entity will be notified of the decision.
Step 3:
Pass County and Municipality Tax Relief Resolutions
Counties and participating municipalities need to pass tax relief resolutions to become a Rural Jump-Start zone. The resolution needs to state that the jurisdiction will not impose a business personal property tax on new businesses in the program. Partial relief from business personal property tax does not qualify. The jurisdiction needs to offer tax relief for up to eight years for each business.
Jurisdictions may also adopt resolutions with incentive payments and other tax relief including credits, exemptions, and refunds.
Specifics for Municipalities
If a county participates in the program, municipalities are not automatically enrolled. A county or sponsoring entity cannot force a municipality to participate in the Rural Jump-Start Program.
To be eligible for the Rural Jump-Start Program, a municipality must:
- Be located in a rural, economically distressed county as designated by the EDC (the municipality itself does not need the designation);
- Be located in a county that passed a Rural Jump-Start tax relief resolution that the EDC has approved;
- Work with a sponsoring entity, which leads the application; and
- Pass a resolution to participate in the program and waive the municipal business personal property tax for Rural Jump-Start participants.
Unlike counties, municipalities may limit resolutions to specific businesses. Municipalities may restrict resolutions to certain geographic areas of the municipality.
Step 4:
Apply in Salesforce to Become a Rural Jump-Start Zone
After the county and participating municipalities pass resolutions, the sponsoring entity can apply for Rural Jump-Start zone designation. A sponsoring entity must lead and submit the application online in the OEDIT Salesforce portal. The sponsoring entity can submit an application at any time. Before applying, the sponsoring entity should know the boundaries of the zone, the participating municipalities, and any other relevant aspects of the zone.
The sponsor entity must include the following materials in the application:
- List of all jurisdictions that have passed or are expected to pass tax relief resolutions;
- Copies of the county and municipality(ies) tax relief resolutions;
- List of all local government partners collaborating with the entity;
- Description of the geographic boundaries of the zone;
- Strategies to implement the Rural Jump-Start Program; and
- Report of all businesses in the pipeline
If the sponsoring entity wants to modify the zone by changing boundaries, adding or removing municipalities, the sponsoring entity needs to file a separate application through the OEDIT application portal.
Review process
After you submit your application, the EDC will review it at the next meeting, which is on the third Thursday of every month. The EDC will approve, deny, or defer the application. The sponsoring entity will be notified of the decision.
To become an eligible business in the Rural Jump-Start Program, it must:
- Not be operating (selling a product or service) in Colorado at the time of application;
- Eligible businesses may be planning, fundraising, recruiting, doing market research, preparing for production (designing/prototyping), filing business formation or registration, or manufacturing and testing a proof of concept, even if some revenue is associated with the activity.
- Be located in a Rural Jump-Start zone;
- Not directly compete with another business in its county or in an adjacent, economically distressed county;
- For example, a coffee shop would not qualify unless there were no other coffee shops in that county or adjacent county
- Export goods and services outside the county (this could include tourism);
- Form a relationship with a sponsoring entity to align missions and benefit the community; and
- Plan to hire at least five qualified New Hires (that are not existing jobs moving to the Rural Jump-Start zone). The chart below outlines the required hiring timeline for businesses to follow:
Year Hiring requirements First full calendar year after EDC approval 1 new hire Second full calendar year after EDC approval 3 new hires All years after 5 new hires To become a qualified New Hire, employees must:
- Earn at least the county’s average annual wage or higher;
- Receive a W-2 from the business;
- Be legally allowed to work in the United States;
- Be a resident of Colorado;
- Be employed for at least six months with the business;
- Work at least 35 hours per week; and
- Spend at least 80 percent of their non-travel time at a location inside the Rural Jump-Start zone (they do NOT have to live in the zone)
Each zone is permitted to approve up to 200 New Hire allocations. The EDC may use its discretion to raise the limit to 300 New Hires in a zone. Other than this zone limit, there is no limit on the number of New Hire tax credits and grants issued to a business.
Qualified New Hires receive 100 percent reimbursement of their State Income Tax. Learn more about how New Hires receive their benefits.
There are three steps that must be taken to become a Rural-Jump Start Business:
Step 1:
Contact the sponsoring entity in your Rural Jump-Start zone to determine qualification and create a Memorandum of Understanding, outlining the relationship
Examples of new business and sponsoring entity relationships include, but are not limited to:
- Leasing property from the sponsoring entity or being located on or adjacent to the campus;
- Licensing intellectual property from the Designated Institute of Higher Education;
- Funding or sponsoring research that relates to the business’s product, service development, or testing;
- Employing faculty, staff, students, or recent graduates of the sponsoring entity as workers or consultants; or
- Using specialized facilities at the sponsoring entity in developing products or services.
Step 2:
Go to the OEDIT Salesforce portal and login to your account or create a new one. (To protect your personal information, we manually add new users to the portal, so it may take several days to activate your account.)
Step 3:
Collaborate with the sponsoring entity to complete and submit the Rural Jump-Start application in Salesforce.
Before submitting the application, attach the required documents:
- Business Plan, including:
- A description of customers and competitors, how your business adds to the economic base, and how the business plans to export goods/services outside the county;
- Pro-forma income statement for the next three years;
- Income statements and balance sheets for the last three years, if applicable;
- Total employee and New Hire forecast for the next five years; and
- Percentage of sales in Colorado, outside of Colorado, and outside the U.S.
- Articles of incorporation or organization; and
- Statement of Good Standing from the Colorado Secretary of State
Upon submission, OEDIT staff complete a rigorous competitive analysis in the applicant’s county and adjacent, economically distressed counties.
During a one-month waiting period, an existing Colorado business in an applicant’s county or an adjacent, economically distressed county may challenge an application if it believes a company would directly compete with the existing company’s core function. If another business challenges an application, OEDIT staff review the challenge and make a decision as to whether or not to move forward with the application.
If there are no challenges to the application and the business passes the competitive analysis, it will be presented to the EDC for final approval. The EDC meets on the third Thursday of every month.
If you have an existing Colorado business and believe a Rural Jump-Start business applicant would directly compete with your company’s core function, you may challenge the application before the Colorado Economic Development Commission approves it. To challenge a business application, please contact the program manager.
Step 1:
File an annual report
Each year at the end of January, OEDIT staff will alert Rural Jump-Start businesses of the upcoming Annual Report due in the OEDIT Salesforce portal. Typically, Annual Reports are due by the last day of February, for the previous year. Your annual report will include information on business performance such as:
- The number of employees, new hires, and owners;
- Geographic areas of sales;
- Product updates; and
- How you support the sponsoring entity’s mission.
Step 2:
File DR 0113, with the Colorado Department of Revenue
After reviewing a business’s Annual Report, OEDIT staff present all reports for approval to the EDC. Pending EDC approval, tax certificates for the business, qualified New Hires, and owners will be sent to the business for its distribution.
What happens if a business does not submit its Annual Report or turns it in late?
If a business does not file its annual report on time, OEDIT staff will send a 60-day notice to submit the information. If a business does not submit the annual report after the 60 days, it will be suspended from the program for the year. Suspended businesses must submit a plan for corrective action and the Annual Report to receive benefits in the next year.
If a business does not file an Annual Report after the 60-day notice of correction and does not respond to email and phone messages, OEDIT staff will send a final 30-day notice. If the business does not respond to the 30-day notice, OEDIT staff will recommend to the EDC revoking Rural Jump-Start approval. Revoking businesses from the program requires EDC approval.
If a business files late Annual Reports for two years, then it will lose Rural Jump-Start status. If this happens, a business will need to re-apply to the program with a new application.
New Hire Compliance
OEDIT staff will analyze a company’s new hires each year after receiving Annual Reports. If an Annual Report does not meet requirements, OEDIT staff will discuss the report with the business to ensure it is accurate. If a business does not meet the New Hire requirements, OEDIT staff will suspend Rural Jump-Start benefits for that year. The company will submit a plan for how the business will meet the requirements for the next year. If a company is suspended, it can only be reinstated after a subsequent year’s Annual Report.
If a business does not meet the requirements the next year, then it will lose Rural Jump-Start status. If this happens, the business must re-apply to the program with a new application.
Eligibility for Other Tax Credits
Businesses that claim the Rural Jump-Start tax credit may not claim any other Colorado tax incentive for establishing the business, including tax incentives for hiring net new employees.
General Operating Matching Grant
The Rural Jump-Start program matches a business’s operating expenses on a 3:1 or 25% basis, with a minimum reimbursement of $5,000. For example, if a business spent $20,000 on business supplies, the program would match $5,000.
The program will only match expenses made on or after the EDC’s approval of the business joining Rural Jump-Start. OEDIT cannot reimburse for expenses that occurred before the approval date.
Requests for reimbursement must be for reasonable business expenses such as, rent/mortgage, equipment, salaries, marketing, utility bills, etc. Reimbursements will not be allowed for tax-related expenses, late fees, or purchases that also benefit the owner personally. OEDIT staff reserves the right to deny reimbursements.
Businesses must fill out a line item spreadsheet of each expense that it requests reimbursement for. Back-up documentation is required for each expense on a reimbursement request. Receipts or proof of payment including the date, vendor, recipient of product/services, and amount are required for each and every expense.
OEDIT staff will carefully review each expense for allowability. Upon approval, the payment will be completed.
New Hire Grants
New Hire grants are awarded after review of all Annual Reports in the Spring each year. Businesses will receive a one-time grant for all employees that meet New Hire qualifications.
New Business Name Sponsoring Entity Rural Jump-Start Zone Date Approved/Extended by EDC Alpenglow Beverage, LLC Routt County Economic Development Partnership Routt June 16, 2022 AnywhereCam, LLC Morgan County Economic Development Corporation Morgan May 18, 2023 Automated Widget Systems Colorado Mesa University/ Technical College of the Rockies Delta Apr 21, 2022 Cead Farms Grain, LLC Morgan Community College Kit Carson July 20, 2023 Cold Case Gear, Inc. Fort Lewis College Archuleta July 15, 2021 Colorado Herbs, LLC Technical College of the Rockies Delta Apr 15, 2021 Colorado Stone Quarries, Inc. Colorado Mesa University/ Technical College of the Rockies Delta Dec 17, 2020 CSC Supply, LLC dba Spartan Drill Tools Colorado Mesa University Mesa June 15, 2023 Eight Yellow Daffodils, LLC dba Colorado Sun Tofu Trinidad State College Las Animas June 15, 2023 Epiveris, LLC Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association Routt March 17, 2022 FHE USA, LLC Colorado Mesa University Mesa Sep 19, 2019 Gate 6 Enterprises, LLC dba Bar-U-Eat Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association Routt Jan. 20, 2022 Geyser Technologies Colorado Mesa University Montrose Dec 19, 2019 Jabil, Inc. Colorado Mesa University Mesa Mar 19, 2021 Kaart Group, LLC Colorado Mesa University Mesa Jun 16, 2020 Lasagna, LLC dba Magic Chonk Routt County Economic Development Partnership Routt Aug. 17, 2023 Lyttle’s Fleet Maintenance, Inc. Colorado Mesa University Mesa Nov. 19, 2021 Panadero Ski Corporation Trinidad State College Huerfano Nov. 17, 2022 Phoenix Haus Colorado Mesa University Mesa Dec 21, 2017 ProStar GeoCorp, Inc. Colorado Mesa University Mesa Feb 11, 2020 Revolutionary Media Group, LLC dba Eastern Liquidations Logan County Economic Development Logan June 15, 2023 Road Warrior Driver Training, LLC Community Economic Development of Sedgwick County Sedgwick Aug 25, 2022 San Luis Valley Outdoor Hospitality (SLVOH) San Luis Valley Development Resources Group Alamosa May 18, 2023 Sasquatch Campers, LLC Fort Lewis College San Juan Dec 16, 2021 SCORD, LLC Colorado Mesa University Mesa Oct 21, 2021 Skyhook Solar Corporation Colorado Mesa University Mesa Oct. 19, 2023 Sky Peak Technologies Colorado Mesa University Mesa Dec. 16, 2021 Spares in Motion, Inc. Colorado Mesa University Mesa Dec. 15, 2022 Spring Born, Inc. Colorado Mountain College Garfield Aug 19, 2021 Town Hall Public Benefit Corporation Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association Routt Nov 19, 2021 Valkyrie Recovery Systems, Inc. Colorado Mesa University Mesa Sept 16, 2021 -
Success Stories
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Program Manager
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Connect Further
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To use this map, type in your address and it will direct you to the closest Designated Institute of Higher Education.
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These counties are currently rural jump-start zones: Archuleta, Clear Creek, Delta, Dolores, Fremont, Garfield, Huerfano, Las Animas, Lincoln, Logan, Mesa, Moffat, Montezuma, Montrose, Otero, Prowers, Pueblo, Rio Blanco, Routt, San Juan, Sedgwick
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These counties are designated as economically distressed. They are eligible to be rural jump-start zones, but they have not yet applied to the program: Alamosa, Baca, Bent, Cheyenne, Conejos, Costilla, Crowley, Cyster, Hinsdale, Jackson, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Lake, Mineral, Morgan, Phillips, Rio Grande, Saguache, Washington, Yuma
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File an annual report
Each year by the last day of February, your business needs to file an annual report for the previous year. Your annual report will include information on business performance such as:
- the number of new hires
- geographic areas of sales
- product updates
- how you support the sponsor entity’s mission
If your business does not file your annual report on time, we will send you a 60-day notice to send us information. If your business does not submit the annual report after the 60 days, your business will be suspended from the program for the year. Suspended businesses need to submit a plan for corrective action and the annual report to receive benefits in the next year.
If your business does not file an annual report after the 60-day notice of correction and does not respond to email and phone messages, we will send you a final written 30-day notice. If you do not respond to the 30-day notice, we will revoke your rural jump-start approval.
If your business files late annual reports for two years, then you will not keep your rural jump-start status. If this happens, you will need to re-apply to the program with a new application.
New employee compliance
We will analyze your company’s new hires each year after you file your annual report. If your annual report does not meet requirements, we will discuss the report with you to ensure it is accurate. If your business does not meet the new hire requirements, we will suspend your rural jump-start benefits for that year. Your company will submit a plan for how you will meet the requirements for the next year. If your company is suspended, it can only be reinstated after a subsequent year’s annual report.
If your business does not meet the requirements the next year, then you will not keep your rural jump-start status. If this happens, you will need to re-apply to the program with a new application.
Eligibility for other tax credits
Businesses that claim the Rural Jump-Start Tax Credit may not claim any other Colorado tax incentive for establishing the business, including tax incentives for hiring net new employees.
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Conditions of funding
File an annual report
Each year by the last day of February, your business needs to file an annual report for the previous year. Your annual report will include information on business performance such as:
- the number of new hires
- geographic areas of sales
- product updates
- how you support the sponsor entity’s mission
If your business does not file your annual report on time, we will send you a 60-day notice to send us information. If your business does not submit the annual report after the 60 days, your business will be suspended from the program for the year. Suspended businesses need to submit a plan for corrective action and the annual report to receive benefits in the next year.
If your business does not file an annual report after the 60-day notice of correction and does not respond to email and phone messages, we will send you a final written 30-day notice. If you do not respond to the 30-day notice, we will revoke your rural jump-start approval.
If your business files late annual reports for two years, then you will not keep your rural jump-start status. If this happens, you will need to re-apply to the program with a new application.
New employee compliance
We will analyze your company’s new hires each year after you file your annual report. If your annual report does not meet requirements, we will discuss the report with you to ensure it is accurate. If your business does not meet the new hire requirements, we will suspend your rural jump-start benefits for that year. Your company will submit a plan for how you will meet the requirements for the next year. If your company is suspended, it can only be reinstated after a subsequent year’s annual report.
If your business does not meet the requirements the next year, then you will not keep your rural jump-start status. If this happens, you will need to re-apply to the program with a new application.
Eligibility for other tax credits
Businesses that claim the Rural Jump-Start Tax Credit may not claim any other Colorado tax incentive for establishing the business, including tax incentives for hiring net new employees.
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Program Manager
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Program Manager
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If you are interested in learning more about Space to Create Colorado, please fill out the form below.
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Request more information
If you are interested in learning more about Space to Create Colorado, please fill out the form below.
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Program Manager
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The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade works closely with several state, regional, and local partners. As one of those partners, you may need access to our logo files. Please see the logo files for the following divisions. Please do not use our logo without permission from our office. All logos are RGB. If you would like to receive a vector or EPS file, please contact your OEDIT partner directly.
Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade
Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade logo
Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade logo reverseColorado Creative Industries
Colorado Creative Industries logo
Colorado Creative Industries logo reverseColorado Office of Film, Television and Media
Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media logo
Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media logo reverseColorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office
Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office logo
Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office logo reverseColorado Tourism Office
Minority Business Office of Colorado
Minority Business Office logo
Minority Business Office logo reverse -
OEDIT Logos
The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade works closely with several state, regional, and local partners. As one of those partners, you may need access to our logo files. Please see the logo files for the following divisions. Please do not use our logo without permission from our office. All logos are RGB. If you would like to receive a vector or EPS file, please contact your OEDIT partner directly.
Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade
Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade logo
Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade logo reverseColorado Creative Industries
Colorado Creative Industries logo
Colorado Creative Industries logo reverseColorado Office of Film, Television and Media
Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media logo
Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media logo reverseColorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office
Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office logo
Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office logo reverseColorado Tourism Office
Minority Business Office of Colorado
Minority Business Office logo
Minority Business Office logo reverse -
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Program Summary
The Colorado Tourism Office participates in the international tourism trade shows listed below. Destination marketing organizations (DMOs) involved in international marketing can join the Colorado booth hosted by the Colorado Tourism Office. During the trade shows, you will meet with international tour operators to promote Colorado tourism products and itineraries, as well as various media outlets to promote travel to Colorado.
How to attend
You will need to submit the Partner Participation Form every year to express interest in attending that season's trade shows. The form is distributed every spring. Please contact Hope Smith to be added to this distribution list.
The Colorado Tourism Office arranges for booths at major international trade shows and offers destination partner participation to create a unified presence for Colorado. Trade show participation is limited as first-come, first-served. Registration and booth pricing varies depending on the trade show. Participants are responsible for paying their own travel, lodging, and meals. -
Overview
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Program Summary
The Colorado Tourism Office participates in the international tourism trade shows listed below. Destination marketing organizations (DMOs) involved in international marketing can join the Colorado booth hosted by the Colorado Tourism Office. During the trade shows, you will meet with international tour operators to promote Colorado tourism products and itineraries, as well as various media outlets to promote travel to Colorado.
How to attend
You will need to submit the Partner Participation Form every year to express interest in attending that season's trade shows. The form is distributed every spring. Please contact Hope Smith to be added to this distribution list.
The Colorado Tourism Office arranges for booths at major international trade shows and offers destination partner participation to create a unified presence for Colorado. Trade show participation is limited as first-come, first-served. Registration and booth pricing varies depending on the trade show. Participants are responsible for paying their own travel, lodging, and meals.Overview -
Go West Summit
Go West Summit is a trade show which takes place annually in the first quarter, with a 1:1 meeting format bringing destinations together with international tour operators to design, develop and maintain tourism products in the American West.
The Colorado Tourism Office encourages annual participation in this trade show, which is designed to provide attendees with every available opportunity t
International Pow Wow (IPW)
U.S. Travel Association’s IPW is the United States’ leading international inbound travel trade show, bringing $5.5 billion in future travel to the United States. It is a national showcase of America, where U.S. travel exhibitors connect with travel buyers and media from more than 70 countries to promote their product, negotiate future business, and build relationships. IPW brings together more than 1,300 international tour operators, 600 international journalists, and 3,000 U.S. suppliers to transact billions of dollars of business.
The Colorado Tourism Office has several opportunities for participation available. Please email the international team for more information.
Show Dates
May 10 to 14, 2021 in Las Vegas
June 4 to 8, 2022 in Orlando, FloridaITB Berlin
ITB Berlin is one of Europe's premier trade shows that brings global destinations together with European tour operators and takes place in March every year. This is an opportunity to meet with German/Swiss/Austrian tour operators and press.
Show Dates
March 10 to 14, 2021 - CTO not attending
March 9 to 13, 2022World Travel Market London
WTM London brings together top UK-based tour operators and media with suppliers from all over the world. Over three days of meetings with suppliers, media and tour operators, WTM London introduces global travel buyers to over 5,000 of the biggest destinations and brands in the world.
Show Dates
November 2 to 4, 2020 - CTO not attending -
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Tourism trade shows
Go West Summit
Go West Summit is a trade show which takes place annually in the first quarter, with a 1:1 meeting format bringing destinations together with international tour operators to design, develop and maintain tourism products in the American West.
The Colorado Tourism Office encourages annual participation in this trade show, which is designed to provide attendees with every available opportunity t
International Pow Wow (IPW)
U.S. Travel Association’s IPW is the United States’ leading international inbound travel trade show, bringing $5.5 billion in future travel to the United States. It is a national showcase of America, where U.S. travel exhibitors connect with travel buyers and media from more than 70 countries to promote their product, negotiate future business, and build relationships. IPW brings together more than 1,300 international tour operators, 600 international journalists, and 3,000 U.S. suppliers to transact billions of dollars of business.
The Colorado Tourism Office has several opportunities for participation available. Please email the international team for more information.
Show Dates
May 10 to 14, 2021 in Las Vegas
June 4 to 8, 2022 in Orlando, FloridaITB Berlin
ITB Berlin is one of Europe's premier trade shows that brings global destinations together with European tour operators and takes place in March every year. This is an opportunity to meet with German/Swiss/Austrian tour operators and press.
Show Dates
March 10 to 14, 2021 - CTO not attending
March 9 to 13, 2022World Travel Market London
WTM London brings together top UK-based tour operators and media with suppliers from all over the world. Over three days of meetings with suppliers, media and tour operators, WTM London introduces global travel buyers to over 5,000 of the biggest destinations and brands in the world.
Show Dates
November 2 to 4, 2020 - CTO not attending -
U.S. Travel Association’s IPW is the United States’ leading international inbound travel trade show, bringing $5.5 billion in future travel to the United States. It is a national showcase of America, where U.S. travel exhibitors connect with travel buyers and media from more than 70 countries to promote their product, negotiate future business, and build relationships. IPW brings together more than 1,300 international tour operators, 600 international journalists, and 3,000 U.S. suppliers to transact billions of dollars of business.
The Colorado Tourism Office has several opportunities for participation available. Please contact the international team at oedit.cto_international@state.co.us for more information.
Show Dates
May 10 to 14, 2021 in Las Vegas
June 4 to 8, 2022 in Orlando, Florida
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International Pow Wow (IPW)
U.S. Travel Association’s IPW is the United States’ leading international inbound travel trade show, bringing $5.5 billion in future travel to the United States. It is a national showcase of America, where U.S. travel exhibitors connect with travel buyers and media from more than 70 countries to promote their product, negotiate future business, and build relationships. IPW brings together more than 1,300 international tour operators, 600 international journalists, and 3,000 U.S. suppliers to transact billions of dollars of business.
The Colorado Tourism Office has several opportunities for participation available. Please contact the international team at oedit.cto_international@state.co.us for more information.
Show Dates
May 10 to 14, 2021 in Las Vegas
June 4 to 8, 2022 in Orlando, Florida
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Selection Process
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