By Curtis Englehart, CEcD, Executive Director  for Grand Junction Economic Partnership (Originally published in the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel – December 2025 ) 

Mesa County continues to experience steady momentum across multiple sectors, supported by a strong business climate, strategic geography, and an increasingly collaborative regional ecosystem. As we look ahead to 2026, several policy updates, development trends, and industry shifts are shaping the region’s outlook. Here are five key updates worth watching:  

Opportunity Zones 2.0  

The One Big Beautiful Act (OBBBA) has made Opportunity Zones (OZ) a permanent fixture of the United States’ economic development policy, introducing new rules that will shape how communities leverage private investment in the coming years. Initially established under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, an Opportunity Zone is a federally designated, economically distressed census tract that can receive significant tax benefits for investing in long-term community development projects. The first iteration of this program sunsets in December 2028 while new tracts are to be established in 2027, meaning some tracts designed in the original round may lose eligibility under the revised criteria.  

Grand Junction has successfully utilized its OZ designations to attract capital and spur redevelopment across key corridors, including near the Riverfront at Las Colonias with one of the most notable developments being The Eddy apartments and RV park. The region is currently home to seven designated OZs, which span areas near downtown, along the Colorado River, and several commercial and industrial areas that have benefited from increased attention and investment.  

With OZs 2.0, the Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT) is working on a multi-month process to support the governor in nominating up to 25% of Colorado’s eligible census tracts to be opportunity zones. GJEP is actively engaged in this process to ensure that community interests and local feedback are incorporated from elected officials, investors, and businesses.  

Because eligibility for OZ 2.0 features stricter income thresholds and eliminates several previous eligibility allowances, some of our community’s current zones may not qualify for redesignation, as was the case for recent updates to the Enterprise Zone Program.  

The effort to provide community feedback is important because these zones have become an effective tool for driving reinvestment and strengthening historically underutilized districts. Ensuring that community-aligned tracts remain a top priority is paramount as Colorado prepares its recommendations.  

Brownfield Sites & Adaptive Reuse  

Last month, our team attended an informative workshop hosted by the Colorado Brownfields Partnership, joined by several representatives throughout western Colorado, including Mesa County, the City of Grand Junction, the City of Fruita, and the Town of Palisade to discuss federal and state resources to support brownfield redevelopment.  

Brownfield sites are abandoned and underutilized due to the presence or potential presence of hazardous materials. A few examples of these include former gas stations, old rail yards and mining sites, and vacant industrial parcels with an unknown environmental history. These sites are often seen as a community liability and require extensive environmental assessment and clean up before they may be safely redeveloped, presenting significant barriers.  

While brownfield sites may not be a primary focus for GJEP, we recognize that brownfields offer unique long-term redevelopment opportunities for investors willing to engage with the transformation process. We will continue to share information about available resources including the EPA’s assessment grants and Colorado’s remediation tax credits, to ensure interested investors have access to every possible tool.  

At the same time, our community is experiencing a notable rise in adaptive reuse and revitalization projects. A recent example of this is the Grand Valley Creative Alliance’s ARTery project in downtown Grand Junction, which will transform a former tavern into an artist-driven community space. Another major example is the GJ Union Depot project which plans to restore the historic train station and add additional amenities including a restaurant/bar. The project will pursue a $5 million Federal Railroad Administration Grant that would help fully restore the historic site.  

Transportation & Logistics Expansions   

Grand Junction’s position between Denver and Salt Lake City, along with access to major highways, rail, and a regional airport, continues to strengthen its appeal as a transportation and logistics hub. This strategic location has fueled industrial growth and helped attract new investment for companies seeking enhanced distribution capabilities.  

In 2025, several major expansions are underway including High Country Beverage’s new 159,650 square foot facility along Riverside Parkway, increasing its warehouse capacity and operational efficiency. Bruin Waste has also expanded in partnership with the City of Grand Junction with a new division focused on advanced recycling materials and sortation previously available to the region only through Utah.  This expansion will improve recycling efficiency and reduce transportation costs.  

And earlier this year, our community celebrated the grand opening of Amazon’s last-mile facility, which has enhanced delivery speed, created new job opportunities, and signaled that this market is a wise investment for logistics-oriented companies.   

Transportation and logistics were also highlighted during our inaugural Site Selector Familiarization Tour, where participating consultants emphasized how the region’s assets make the Grand Junction area increasingly competitive for this sector.  

Talent Retention and Attraction  

The Site Familiarization Tour also underscored the importance of prioritizing talent retention and attraction across Mesa County. Workforce availability remains among the most influential factors for companies and proactively developing our talent pipelines will position the region to capture incoming economic opportunities.  

Mesa County is already advancing collaborative approaches to workforce development through partnerships among educational institutions and employers. Continued emphasis on the storytelling aspect of living and working in Grand Junction will remain essential for attracting and retaining the skilled workers needed to fill positions in our community. Highlighting our community’s quality of life and commitment to supporting the workforce will be a key component in GJEP’s overall strategy as we work to support business recruitment and expansion in our community.  

Investment from Emerging Industries    

Finally, Mesa County is witnessing growing interest from emerging industries, particularly within technology and advanced manufacturing. For the first time this year, technology ranked among the top industry sectors within GJEP’s prospect pipeline, driven by national momentum around this sector.  

Earlier this year, we partnered with OEDIT to host the Advanced Industries Roadshow, which highlighted state resources, grants, and assistance available to local companies operating within Colorado’s advanced industries sector. These efforts help ensure that growing businesses in our community have the support needed to scale in Mesa County. As interest in advanced manufacturing, technology, aerospace, clean tech, and software continues to rise statewide, Mesa County is well positioned to attract companies seeking a business-friendly environment with strong talent and quality of life advantages.  

Mesa County’s economy is evolving in dynamic ways, being supported by both long-standing strengths and new opportunities emerging across key sectors. As redevelopment efforts continue, transportation assets expand, and innovative industries gain traction; the region is well-positioned for a strong year of economic development efforts ahead.