Grow Your Business in the New West

We let our incentive opportunities speak for themselves and provide you with the support to access them.

Whether your business already has established roots here or you’re seeking new opportunities in the New West, GJEP provides the relocation and networking resources you need to grow. We work directly with business leaders to connect your company with the local industries and community. Beyond our local network, our team navigates local and state incentives to tailor a financing package that meets your business’s needs.

A Personalized Approach to Business
Incentives and Financing

State and Federal
Incentives

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Rural Jump-Start Zone Tax Credit Program

New and expanding businesses in Mesa County may be eligible for this “tax holiday” for up to eight years, that includes zero state income taxes; zero state and local sales and use taxes; zero county and municipal real and business personal property taxes; and zero state income taxes for employees.

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Strategic Fund Incentive

The Strategic Fund Incentive supports and encourages new business development, business expansions, and relocations that generate new jobs throughout the State of Colorado. It is a cash incentive program for eligible businesses that create net new full-time jobs in the State of Colorado that are maintained for at least one year.

Opportunity Zones

Opportunity Zones are economically distressed community where certain new investments may be eligible for preferential tax treatment. There are seven Opportunity Zones in Colorado’s Grand Valley, which encompass most of central Grand Junction, including the new downtown river district, as well as Powderhorn Mountain Resort on the Grand Mesa.

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Job Growth Tax Incentive

A performance-based program for businesses pursuing job creation projects that would otherwise not occur in Colorado. Businesses that create at least 20 net new jobs in Colorado within a credit period may be eligible for a state income tax credit equal to 50% of FICA paid.

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Innovative Housing Incentive Program (IHIP)

A business located in Colorado that has 500 or fewer employees and that manufactures certain types of housing may apply for funding through the program. Funding may be awarded through grants for operating expenses and for incentives for units manufactured based on criteria established by the office such as affordability, location where the unit is installed in the state, or meeting energy efficiency standards. Funding may also be awarded through loans that fund a new housing manufacturing factory or the expansion of an existing housing manufacturing factory.

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Enterprise Zone

Mesa County is a designated Colorado Enterprise Zone, providing businesses with tax credits for specific (pre-certified) business operations, including hiring new employees, providing employees with health insurance and job training, obtaining a new business facility, and purchasing new equipment, if they locate or expand in a designated “enterprise zone.”

Colorado FIRST / Existing Industry Customized Job Training

Customized job training programs that increase transferable job skills that support both the company’s economic competitiveness and enhance worker’s resumes and long-term employment opportunities. The program focuses on companies relocating to, or expanding in, Colorado and provides funds only to net new hires.

Manufacturing Sales and Use Tax Exemption

A local sales tax exemption on purchases of machinery and machine tools over $500 to be used directly and predominantly in manufacturing tangible personal property for sale.

Advanced Industries Export Grant

The Advanced Industries Export Grant helps Colorado-based advanced industries technology businesses who want to export or are currently exporting. This grant is for small- and medium-sized businesses. It reimburses for international business development and marketing costs. Businesses can apply for up to $15,000 and up to 50% of the approved expenses.

The Global Consultant Network is also funded through this program. Colorado-based businesses can receive consulting support to help them expand into other countries. Consulting services typically last between three and eight months.

Consultants offer these services:

  • Market entry services
  • In-country partner meetings
  • Other services (cost dependent on service)
Advanced Industries Early-Stage Capital and Retention Grant

The Advanced Industries Early-Stage Capital and Retention Grant helps Colorado-based advanced industries technology businesses develop and commercialize advanced technologies that will be created or manufactured in Colorado. Projects can receive up to $250,000. This grant award maximum can be lifted for projects that impact more than one advanced industry.

The market typically under-invests in early-stage technologies. The grant’s goal is to fill the gap left by the market. The grant is not meant to compete with existing funding.

The Global Business Development (GBD) division administers this grant in partnership with Colorado’s advanced industry trade associations and receives final approval from the Economic Development Commission.

Local Incentives

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Mesa County and City of Grand Junction Business Personal Property Tax Rebate

A new or existing business that invests a minimum of $1 million in new business facilities or equipment, and increases employment by 10% or one full-time employee, may receive a rebate for 100% of business personal property tax paid to Mesa County and the City of Grand Junction

City of Grand Junction Sales and Use Taxes on Manufacturing Consumables

 Businesses have the opportunity to waive 100% of sales and use tax paid to the City of Grand Junction on manufacturing consumables used in the manufacturing process.

Grand Junction Economic Partnership Incentive Fund

GJEP’s Board of Directors may provide eligible businesses with cash incentives for capital expenditures and primary job creation in the Grand Valley.

On-the-Job Training Program

A limited-duration contract between an employer and the Mesa County Workforce Center that offsets wages while new employees are onboarding and training.

Learn more about how our partners can bring your small business to the next level

LOCAL BUSINESS RESOURCES

Grow Your Business Where Life is Grand

The Grand Junction area is the place where your business grows and embraces its industry through the local community spirit. It is the place to rise professionally, and also raise your kids and enjoy endless outdoor opportunities. GJEP works closely with the business community, local municipalities, and other area economic development organizations to make sure companies achieve their expansion plans.

In May 2016, GJEP signed a Memorandum of Understanding with The Business Incubator Center and the Chamber of Commerce in Grand Junction, to ensure that, together, we offer 360 degrees of support to smaller firms and startups. We are proud to say that our collaborative efforts quickly earned two awards in 2016 from the distinguished International Economic Development Council: An Excellence in Economic Development Silver Award for our Economic Development Week campaign and the Excellence in Economic Development Silver Award for Regionalism & Cross-Border activity.

The Grand Junction area is the place where your business grows and embraces its industry through the local community spirit. It is the place to rise professionally, and also raise your kids and enjoy endless outdoor opportunities. GJEP works closely with the business community, local municipalities, and other area economic development organizations to make sure companies achieve their expansion plans.

In May 2016, GJEP signed a Memorandum of Understanding with The Business Incubator Center and the Chamber of Commerce in Grand Junction, to ensure that, together, we offer 360 degrees of support to smaller firms and startups. We are proud to say that our collaborative efforts quickly earned two awards in 2016 from the distinguished International Economic Development Council: An Excellence in Economic Development Silver Award for our Economic Development Week campaign, and the Excellence in Economic Development Silver Award for Regionalism & Cross-Border activity.

The Business Incubator Center

The Business Incubator Center (BIC) is a regional “one-stop-shop” for new and existing small business entrepreneurs in the New West. As a truly unique organization, BIC hosts a traditional incubator program, a commercial kitchen incubator, the Colorado Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the Business Loan Fund, Mesa County Enterprise Zone, and the GJMakerspace.

BIC has been supporting the launch, growth, stabilization and long-term success of business enterprises in Mesa County for almost thirty years. With over 60,000 square feet of space for clients in residence and an exceptional combination of staff and volunteer coaches, BIC has been recognized twice as the number one mixed-use incubator in the world by the International Business Innovation Association (InBIA) for its ability to successfully combine space, business advisory services, community and access to capital under one roof.

The Grand Junction Area
Chamber of Commerce

The Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce (GJACC) is an organization with over 100 years of experience and works hard to promote a strong local economy for new and current businesses.

The GJACC partners with approximately 950 business members representing over 37,000 employees in the Grand Valley working to create a sustainable local economy and community, advocating for the local business community in state legislature, and providing essential marketing services such as ribbon cuttings The Young Professionals Network of Mesa County and Young Entrepreneurs Academy are factions of the GJACC.

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