A bill moving through the Colorado Legislature right now threatens to pull the rug out from under rural economic development efforts across the Western Slope. House Bill 25-1296, if passed, would severely weaken the Enterprise Zone Investment Tax Credit—one of the most effective tools we have to attract capital and create jobs in hard-to-reach communities like ours.
The Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce is actively working with lawmakers, regional partners, and economic development leaders to oppose and amend this harmful legislation. We are at the table making the case for Western Colorado—armed with data, real-world impacts, and the voices of businesses who know what’s at stake.
HB25-1296 proposes two major changes. First, a cap of $2 million per taxpayer on Enterprise Zone tax credits starting in 2026 and secondly, the complete exclusion of key industries from the program—including oil and gas extraction, aviation, fuel retail, and wireless telecommunications infrastructure.
Let’s not sugarcoat it: These industries are not fringe players. They are foundational to the Western Slope economy. They drive infrastructure projects, support high-wage jobs, and make major capital investments in areas where attracting outside dollars is often an uphill battle.
Here’s what the data shows:
In 2024, the industries HB25-1296 aims to cut out accounted for 65.02% of all Enterprise Zone tax credits in Mesa County, Region 10, and the Northwest Enterprise Zone. Those credits supported $84.7 million in private capital investment.
If this bill becomes law, most of that activity would no longer qualify—drying up essential investment in Western Colorado.
Meanwhile, the bill’s fiscal note projects a $10.5 million increase in state General Fund revenue starting in FY 2026-27—based on an assumption that just a few large projects would be capped or excluded each year.
That’s not a fair trade. It’s a massive loss for rural Colorado, with a minimal gain for the state.
The Chamber and our partners aren’t sitting back—we’re speaking out, testifying, sharing economic impact data, and pushing for amendments that protect rural regions. We’re making it clear that this bill doesn’t just change a tax credit—it undermines the future of job creation and private investment in communities like ours.
We need your voice too. If you care about keeping jobs in Western Colorado, building a stronger local economy, and making sure rural areas aren’t left behind, we urge you to contact your legislators and ask them to vote NO on HB25-1296—or at the very least, support amendments that preserve its effectiveness for the communities that rely on it most.
And we’re encouraging communities across the state to speak up—because the disproportionate damage this bill would do to rural regions far outweighs the minimal benefit it brings to the state budget. We’re stronger when we stand together, and now is the time to make your voice heard.
For more information email [email protected].