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Colorado Direct Financial Incentives 2012

Colorado's economic development, finance and tax organizations provide a range of incentive programs to initiate new business and commercial investment. Specific programs include the Bioscience Discovery Evaluation Grant Program, PABs, and customized training.

2012
Grants/loans:
The Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) allocates and administers federal Community Development Block Grant funds, which are set aside for business finance projects. Loans and infrastructure grants are provided for projects that create or retain jobs principally for low- or moderate-income persons.

OEDIT uses its allocation of funds to capitalize the state's Business Loan Funds. Currently, the state has 15 Business Loan Fund locations that have service areas covering the majority of the rural areas of the state. The state's program does not cover any of the metropolitan or entitlement cities in Colorado, since these communities receive their own allocation of funds. For loans, contact the state regional revolving loan funds. Businesses interested in infrastructure grants should contact OED/IT directly.

In addition, any business locating or expanding in the state is potentially eligible for Economic Development Commission funds. Projects must demonstrate a high potential for success and economic impact. Incentive packages are designed to assist with existing business expansions and new company relocations in order to promote job creation and retention in all regions of the state. In determining whether to approve incentive awards, the EDC reviews the number of jobs created, average salary levels, location and other factors. Incentives may be in the form of tax credits authorized by statute or direct, performance-based payments.

Certified Capital Companies (CAPCOs) are for-profit companies that are authorized to provide equity, debt or other forms of financing for start-up or expanding businesses in Colorado. Contact information for the CAPCOs may be found on the OED/IT website.

The Colorado Venture Capital Authority (VCA), through its selected fund manager (High Country Venture, LLC) established a fund of approximately $25 million to make seed- and early-stage capital investments in Colorado businesses. The VCA anticipates the establishment of a second fund of approximately $25 million in 2010.

PAB's:
The state's private activity bond allocation program has been established to provide industry with tax-exempt PAB's to encourage private investment in creating and sustaining jobs. PAB's are issued for the following activities: manufacturing, fixed assets and qualified redevelopment projects, as well as financing hazardous waste facilities, solid waste disposal facilities and water and sewer facilities.

Bioscience Discovery Evaluation Grant Program:
The Early-Stage Bioscience Company grants up to $250,000 are intended to spur economic development and help new companies born out of Colorado research institutions to succeed in developing new technologies, business structures and product development. Grants are accessible to qualified Early-Stage Companies whose technology is licensed from a qualified Research Institution. Grants will support the commercialization of therapeutic or diagnostic products, devices, or instruments to improve human health; bioscience technologies that improve agriculture or biofuels.

The Proof-of-Concept grants under the Bioscience Discovery Evaluation Grant Program (BDEGP) are intended to support bioscience discoveries that will likely lead to the development of new products, services, businesses and employment in the bioscience industry in Colorado. Grants up to $150,000 are open to Offices of Technology Transfer (OTT) affiliated with qualified Research Institutions in order to enhance the commercial potential of bioscience research projects that focus on life sciences, engineering, material sciences computer sciences, photonics, or nanotechnology.

Customized training:
The Colorado First Customized Training Program provides training assistance for the expansion of existing companies and the development of new firms. Companies receiving assistance must be non-retail in nature, and jobs must be permanent and non-seasonal.

The Colorado Existing Industry Training Program provides assistance for training for companies that are undergoing a major technological change, and for training or retraining their workers for specific jobs where training is deemed crucial for the continued success of the company. Companies must be non-retail in nature, and jobs must be permanent and non-seasonal. For both programs, companies must provide 40 percent of these training costs.

Colorado State Contact:
Director
State of Colorado
Office of Economic Development
1625 Broadway, Suite 1710
Denver, CO 80202
www.AdvanceColorado.com
(303) 892-3840
Fax: (303) 892-3848

Incentive and tax information is provided to Area Development by each state's economic development or commerce agency for information purposes only and is subject to revision at any time by the state government. Please contact the state agency directly for full requirements and offerings.

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