Colorado Submitted 91 Tracts for Opportunity Zones
The state government identified 91 census tracts to participate in a new federal tax incentive program.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Regional Economics
Live Poll
Do you believe state tax incentives are an effective way to boost your local economy?
Governor Jared Polis has submitted 91 census tracts to federal regulators for Opportunity Zone designation. These zones aim to stimulate economic activity by offering tax incentives for private investment.
Why it matters
Designated Opportunity Zones provide investors with opportunities to defer, reduce, or eliminate capital gain taxes. State officials utilized this program to focus private capital toward community improvement and local job growth.
The state submitted 91 tracts for designation, representing approximately 25% of the 362 eligible census tracts in Colorado. Among these selections, 89 tracts overlap with existing Enterprise Zones and 33 overlap with the Rural Jump-Start program.
The players
Jared Polis
Jared Polis serves as the Governor of Colorado and oversaw the submission process for the state census tracts.
Colorado Mesa University
This public university located in Grand Junction served as a venue for regional stakeholder feedback sessions.
The details
State officials determined the final list after hosting more than 100 stakeholder engagement meetings, six webinars, and four in-person regional sessions. This process included a feedback session held at Colorado Mesa University in May involving local leadership and business owners.
Timeline
The initial Opportunity Zone program launched in 2017.
The U.S. Treasury announced the list of eligible tracts in April 2026.
A feedback session was held at Colorado Mesa University in May 2026.
The new Opportunity Zone program will go live at the start of 2027.
The first Opportunity Zone program is scheduled to sunset in 2028.
Macro View
This initiative follows the structure set by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 Opportunity Zone provisions. The state-level submission aligns with these existing federal investment cycles while extending the reach of development tools through 2036.
Residents in these 91 designated tracts may see increased interest from private investors for local development projects. Small business owners and developers in these areas may gain access to new capital structures that provide significant tax advantages.
The takeaway
Opportunity Zones act as a long-term lever for state governments to attract private capital to rural and underserved regions. Investors and local leaders should prepare for the program launch in 2027 to align upcoming projects with these available tax incentives.
What happens next
The second iteration of the federal Opportunity Zone program is scheduled to begin accepting investments at the start of 2027 and will continue operating through 2036.
Further reading
Learn more about local economic development initiatives on the Regional Economics page.
More information
View the interactive map of designated tracts for a full list of the areas submitted for the program.
Live Poll
Do you believe state tax incentives are an effective way to boost your local economy?
