Colorado Nominated 91 Tracts for Opportunity Zones
State officials have identified areas for tax incentives designed to spur private investment and local job growth.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Regional Economics
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Governor Jared Polis submitted 91 census tracts to federal regulators for Opportunity Zone designation. This move covers about 25% of Colorado's 362 eligible tracts and aims to bolster community development.
Why it matters
Designated areas offer investors tax incentives that can defer, reduce, or eliminate capital gain taxes. State officials selected these locations to maximize job growth and local improvement through private investment.
The state submitted 91 census tracts for designation out of 362 total eligible tracts. Of these, 89 tracts overlap with existing Enterprise Zones and 33 overlap with the Rural Jump-Start program.
The players
Jared Polis
The Governor of Colorado who oversees state economic development and tax incentive policy.
Colorado Mesa University
An educational institution that serves as a regional hub for local leadership and business stakeholder engagement.
The details
The program provides tax benefits for long-term investments in designated distressed census tracts. By selecting areas that already align with existing economic programs like Enterprise Zones or Rural Jump-Start, Colorado aims to stack incentives to attract private capital. The selection process involved extensive outreach, including stakeholder meetings and a feedback session at Colorado Mesa University.
Timeline
2017: First Opportunity Zone program launched.
April 2026: U.S. Treasury announced list of eligible tracts.
May 2026: Feedback session held at Colorado Mesa University.
Start of 2027: New Opportunity Zone program goes live.
2028: First Opportunity Zone program sunsets.
Money Landscape
This submission represents the transition between the original federal Opportunity Zone program that expires in 2028 and the new cycle launching in 2027. It continues a multi-year effort to use targeted tax incentives to redirect private capital into specific regional corridors.
Property owners and business operators within the selected tracts may see increased interest from private investors seeking tax-advantaged opportunities. Residents and business owners should consult a tax professional to understand how potential investment in these areas might affect their specific capital gain obligations.
The takeaway
Opportunity Zones act as a key mechanism for tax-deferred investment, and the state's focus on overlapping existing programs signals a priority for concentrated development. Business owners should keep track of their local census tract status as the new program cycle approaches in early 2027.
What happens next
The new Opportunity Zone program is projected to go live for investment at the start of 2027 and will remain active through 2036.
Further reading
For more details on how regional initiatives affect local financial development, explore our Regional Economics section.
More information
You can view the specific census tracts included in the state's proposal on the interactive map of designated tracts.
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