Opportunity Zone 2.0: A Call to Shape Mesa County’s Future

By Curtis Englehart, CEcD, Executive Director  for Grand Junction Economic Partnership (Originally published in the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, June 20, 2026)

For many parts of our country, investment in economic development through business development, revitalization, and new capital projects has been unequally distributed. Certain communities may receive an influx of new investment, while others are historically left behind. Initially created under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, the Opportunity Zones (OZ) program was designed to address these challenges by encouraging private investment opportunities in designated low-income communities to spur economic growth.  

This federal incentive encourages long-term private investment in economically distressed communities by allowing investors to roll capital gains into Qualified Opportunity Funds (QOFs), which defer taxes, provide basis step-ups, and permanently exclude post-investment gains on 10-year holds. Funds can then be reinvested into designated low-income communities to promote economic development, encourage new workforce housing, and support small businesses both directly and indirectly.  

For many communities like Grand Junction, OZs have been a powerful catalyst in supporting economic development in traditionally underserved parts of our community. The first iteration of the OZ Program encouraged new investment in housing and businesses throughout Mesa County, with notable examples including the Eddy Apartments and Camp Eddy near Las Colonias, through Four Points Funding. While OZ 1.0 is sunsetting in December 2028, Opportunity Zones will become a permanent fixture of the U.S. tax code, with census tracts being redesignated every 10 years under new eligibility requirements that take effect in 2027.  

On May 11, 2026, the Grand Junction Economic Partnership partnered with the Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT) and the Business Incubator Center to host a community education and engagement workshop regarding OZs and the redesignation process in Mesa County.  OEDIT is supporting the Governor in nominating up to 25% of Colorado’s eligible tracts to the U.S. Treasury for official designation and community feedback within this process is imperative. 

New OZ Designation & Investment Opportunities   

There are six census tracts in Mesa County that are eligible for Opportunity Zone designation. OEDIT is working closely with the Governor to help nominate up to 25% of Colorado’s eligible tracts to the U.S Treasury for official designation and is seeking community feedback to ensure that nominations match local priorities.  

At the state level, each of these tracts was evaluated and scored based on three tiers to define a preliminary composite score. Tier 1 (Market Rate Housing) consists of evaluating vacancy rates, job accessibility index, developable land, transit-oriented communities, median home prices, mean home value, rent burden, and displacement risk. Tier 2 (Economic Opportunity) evaluates core assets, including industry clusters and workforce momentum, as well as state designations, including Rural Jump-Start Zones and Enterprise Zones. Lastly, Tier 3 (Economic Need) evaluates census tracts based on geographic isolation, poverty rates, median household income, and unemployment rates.  

After reviewing the scores for each eligible census tract in Mesa County and collecting community feedback during the May 11th engagement event, the Grand Junction Economic Partnership and the Business Incubator Center have compiled a list of community priorities and recommendations for an official OZ designation. While six zones are eligible for designation, we have chosen to prioritize the following for nomination:  

Community Priority #1: Central Grand Junction – Census Tract 08077000400 

Located in central Grand Junction, this census tract spans 25 Rd to N. 7th Street and Patterson Rd to North Avenue, this tract is positioned as an ideal epicenter for high-growth business and industry development with a strong tie to Colorado Mesa University and its resources adjacent to the tract. It contains a high Tier 1 Score (73.01) and demonstrates the capacity to support both housing and business development. It has a strong workforce, proximity to major regional employers, and existing industry clusters.  

Proposed and ongoing initiatives focus on high-density infill housing and business development from 25 Rd to N. 7th Street, with plans to create a vibrant and walkable district near Colorado Mesa University. Multiple properties within this tract have recently been purchased, creating potential for near-term job creation and redevelopment.  

Community Priority #2: Clifton – Census Tract 08077001705

The first of the Clifton tracts spans 32 Rd to 33 ¾ Rd (east/west) and from G Rd to E and E ¼ Rd (north/south) and borders the I-70 B Frontage Road. This census tract contains the highest poverty rate score among the six eligible tracts and a low industry cluster score. This tract contains a high rent burden, with many low-income, single-parent households. Investment in housing opportunities in this corridor is anticipated to advance housing and directly support community vitality.  This tract is also adjacent to the City of Grand Junction’s new Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), which could encourage additional industrial interest in the region.  

Community Priority #3: Central Grand Junction – Census Tract 08077000700

This census tract is located along North Avenue, beginning at N. 12th Street, to the I-70 Business Loop. It is a high-traffic corridor with a known transit-oriented community and several underutilized vacant properties along North Avenue that are prime for redevelopment. The area is being used to encourage additional housing development through the Salt Flats property, and OZ designation would further catalyze housing investment opportunities to address shortages in our community. Additionally, the availability of development-ready parcels and existing properties ready for investment presents strong opportunities to further support industry and business growth in Grand Junction.  

Community Priority #4: Clifton – Census Tract 08077001706

 The second eligible tract in Clifton is located south of E ¼ and E Rd and east of 32 Rd. It contains a high score for both market-rate housing and economic opportunities. The tract contains the new Clifton Community Campus and several new housing developments are encouraging additional investment within this portion of Mesa County. The area also contains a high rent burden score and the lowest median income for all eligible tracts, indicating a strong economic need for additional housing, services, and employment opportunities. 

Each of these tracts represents strong opportunities for market-rate housing, business development, job creation, and addressing economic needs in our community. Official OZ designation would unlock additional opportunities to support economic development through a variety of both state and federal tax incentives that would significantly lower barriers for investors and businesses.  

Community feedback within this process is imperative as the designation of new zones will shape future opportunities impacting generations to come. To learn more about Opportunity Zones in Mesa County, eligibility criteria, and how you can share your feedback within the process, please visit oedit.colorado.gov/oz.  

Public input is due by June 30th, 2026.