Colorado Submitted 91 Census Tracts for Opportunity Zones
Business owners in these designated areas may soon leverage new tax incentives to drive local capital investment.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Regional Economics
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Governor Jared Polis has officially submitted 91 census tracts to federal regulators for Opportunity Zone designation. The move aims to drive private investment and job growth into these regions, including three tracts in Mesa County, when the program goes live in 2027.
Why it matters
Designated zones provide investors with mechanisms to defer, reduce, or eliminate capital gain taxes, which directly influences local competitive positioning for real estate and business expansion. Officials strategically aligned these areas with existing economic support programs to maximize the impact of private capital inflows.
Colorado submitted 91 census tracts for designation, representing 25% of the 362 total eligible tracts in the state. Of these, 89 tracts overlap with existing Enterprise Zones and 33 overlap with the Rural Jump-Start program.
The players
Jared Polis
The current Governor of Colorado overseeing the state's economic development initiatives and federal program submissions.
The details
The state selection process involved over 100 stakeholder engagement meetings and four regional convenings, including a feedback session at Colorado Mesa University in May. By overlapping these new designations with established Enterprise Zones and the Rural Jump-Start program, the state is creating a layered incentive structure to attract developers and business owners. Investors participating in these zones will be able to utilize capital gains tax deferrals through 2036, provided they meet specific local investment criteria.
Timeline
The first 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 original Opportunity Zone program is set to sunset in 2028.
Market Landscape
This effort builds on the framework established by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which created the initial Opportunity Zone program. By anchoring new selections to existing Enterprise Zones, the state is following a strategy of consolidating tax incentives to create more predictable investment corridors.
Business operators in designated tracts should consult with a tax accountant to prepare for new capital gains tax structures starting in 2027. Review your property location against the list of submitted tracts to determine if you qualify for these future investment incentives.
The takeaway
The state's approach prioritizes layering new tax incentives onto existing rural and enterprise development zones to boost local capital. Operators should track the federal approval process via the official interactive map of designated tracts to time their investments with the 2027 program launch.
What happens next
Investors and business owners should monitor federal approval updates and the official rollout of the new program at the start of 2027.
Further reading
For more on state economic policy, visit the Regional Economics section.
More information
View the interactive map of designated tracts to see if your business location is included in the submission.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel.
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