COLORADO OPPORUNITY ZONES

About the Opportunity Zones Program (OZ)

The Opportunity Zone Program (OZ) is a federal incentive that encourages long-term private investments in designated low-income census tracts by providing investors with tax benefits for investing in real estate projects or operating businesses. Investors receive tax incentives in the form of deferral and elimination of state and federal capital gains taxes. 

The first iteration of the Opportunity Zones Program’s benefits is sunsetting in December 2028. Under Opportunity Zones 2.0, new eligibility criteria and designated census tracts are being established. The Grand Junction Economic Partnership is working closely with the Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT) to collect community feedback, which will support the Governor in nominating up to 25% of Colorado’s eligible census tracts to the U.S. Treasury. 

OZ 2.0 Timeline and Key Dates: 

  • April 6, 2026 — U.S. Treasury releases list of eligible census tracts and OZ guidelines 
  • May 2026—OEDIT releases GIS map of eligible tracts, data index showing eligible tract scores, and community feedback from (due 07/30/2026) 
  • July 1 – September 30, 2026—90 Day designation period for Colorado to nominate OZ 2.0 designations to the U.S. Treasury 
  • July – December 2026—OEDIT will establish OZ 2.0 implementation grants for designated zones and update the Colorado OZ Investment Database 
  • October – December 2026—U.S. Treasury will release designated OZ 2.0 census tracts
  • January 1, 2027—New OZs are live for investment, designated for a 10 year period (2027 – 2036) 

Learn more about the Colorado Opportunity Zone Program at oedit.colorado.gov/oz 

Opportunity Zones in Grand Junction, Colorado

Current Opportunity Zones

The map above highlights the current federally designated Opportunity Zones in Mesa County under the 1.0 guidelines. While the first iteration of the originally designated zones will sunset in December 2028, investor may hold their investments and still receive the benefit of elimination of capital gains tax obligations on the Opportunity Zone investment.

Please view an interactive map of currently designated zones and information regarding new eligibility criteria and redesignation at oedit.colorado.gov/oz

Opportunity Zones 2.0 Designation—Eligible Census Tracts

New census tracts will be designated as Opportunity Zones under new eligibility requirements. There are currently six (6) eligible tracts in Mesa County, CO. The Grand Junction Economic Partnership is working closely with the Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade during this process as they support the Governor in making recommendations for official OZ designation which will go into effect on January 1, 2027. 

OZ 2.0 Resources & Information

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