DENVER — The U.S. Department of the Treasury has officially approved all 91 census tracts nominated by the State of Colorado for federal designation under the permanent Opportunity Zone initiative, setting the stage for an estimated $4 billion in long-term capital investment across urban and rural communities beginning January 1, 2027, according to the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. Governor Jared Polis announced the federal sign-off on Monday, noting that the designations will channel private investment into local infrastructure, workforce housing, manufacturing facilities, and small business expansion in economically distressed areas.

Under federal legislation H.R. 1, which made the federal Opportunity Zone program permanent and updated its eligibility criteria, the Treasury Department identified 362 qualifying low-income census tracts across Colorado and invited the state to nominate up to 25 percent for official designation, as detailed by the Colorado Governor’s Office. The Business Funding and Incentives division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade selected the 91 tracts in September following an extensive public review process that included more than 100 stakeholder meetings, six statewide webinars, and four regional convenings.

State economic planners structured the new designations to prioritize geographic diversity and overlap with existing state development incentives, according to the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. Of the 91 approved tracts, 89 overlap with a state Enterprise Zone, 47 encompass transit-oriented communities, and 35 are situated outside the Front Range corridor. Twenty-eight tracts—approximately 31 percent of the total submission—are located in rural communities that qualify for enhanced investment incentives, while 33 overlap with Rural Jump-Start Zones and 10 support designated Coal Transition Communities.

Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade Executive Director Eve Lieberman announced that the agency will release guidance before the end of 2026 on state grant funding designed to help designated communities attract private capital when the zones go live in January. During the first round of the federal program through the end of 2024, Colorado ranked second nationwide in the share of zones receiving capital and eighth in total funds raised, generating more than $3.2 billion—or $534 per resident—with 95 percent of rural zones securing active investment, according to the Colorado Governor’s Office.

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