Commissioners send letter of opposition to House Bill 25-1296 to Gov. Jared Polis and Colorado House of Representatives

At their April 8 public hearing, the Board of County Commissioners sent a letter of opposition to House Bill 25-1296 to Gov. Jared Polis and the Colorado House of Representatives because the bill proposes sweeping changes to the Enterprise Zone Investment Tax Credit (EZ ITC) program that would disproportionately harm Mesa County and similar rural areas across the Western Slope.

The proposed $2 million cap on annual credits per taxpayer, combined with the exclusion of core sectors such as oil and gas, aviation, telecommunications, and fuel retail included in the bill, would effectively pull investment out of Mesa County.

Read the full letter

As the elected representatives of Mesa County—a region deeply rooted in entrepreneurship, industry, and community resilience—we write to express our unequivocal opposition to House Bill 25-1296. This bill proposes sweeping changes to the Enterprise Zone Investment Tax Credit (EZ ITC) program that would disproportionately harm Mesa County and similar rural areas across the Western Slope.

HB25-1296 does not reform the EZ program—it dismantles it. The proposed $2 million cap on annual credits per taxpayer, combined with the exclusion of core sectors such as oil and gas, aviation, telecommunications, and fuel retail, would effectively pull investment out of our communities at a time when we are still recovering from economic disruptions and striving to create jobs.

This is not theoretical. The impacts to Mesa County and our surrounding Enterprise Zones are quantifiable, immediate, and damaging:

• In 2024 alone, the industries targeted by HB25-1296 accounted for 65.02% of all EZ tax credits across the Western Slope—fueling $84.7 million in capital investment in Mesa County, Region 10, and the Northwest Enterprise Zone.
• In Mesa County specifically, businesses in excluded sectors made $511,166 in capital investments and received $16,776 in tax credits—real dollars that translate to real infrastructure and jobs. 

These investments support long-term economic development, particularly in energy and telecom infrastructure—both critical to our region’s future. 

The Enterprise Zone (EZ) program has played a pivotal role in fostering economic growth and supporting vital services in Mesa County. Here are some notable examples of its impact:

• HopeWest, a nonprofit organization providing hospice and palliative care services, leveraged its EZ designation to complete a significant $17 million remodel of its Center for Living Your Best. This project not only enhanced healthcare services but also contributed substantially to the local economy by employing local contractors and sourcing materials locally. The expansion led to the creation of 77 new jobs, with 70% offering wages higher than local and state averages.
• The Business Incubator Center administers the Mesa County Enterprise Zone, providing state income tax credits to businesses for investment, expansion, and job creation. In 2022, the center facilitated the issuance of $2,146,370 in tax credits to private businesses and $1,395,971 to nonprofit organizations, underscoring the program’s role in stimulating local economic development.
• Grand Junction Economic Partnership (GJEP), has been instrumental in attracting and supporting businesses through various incentives, including those offered by the EZ program. Their efforts have resulted in significant economic impacts, such as the creation of 161 new primary jobs in 2023 with an average annual wage of $61,085, and a total economic impact of over $52 million. These successes highlight the effectiveness of the EZ program in driving regional economic growth. 

These examples demonstrate the tangible benefits of the Enterprise Zone program in Mesa County, showcasing its role in job creation, economic stimulation, and the enhancement of essential community services. 

The EZ program has been one of the few effective tools we have to compete with urban markets along the Front Range. These tax credits aren’t subsidies—they are strategic incentives that make it possible for rural businesses to take risks, hire locally, and reinvest in their communities. Eliminating them is akin to pulling the ladder up on communities that are still climbing.

The proposed $2 million cap further exacerbates this issue. Rural projects—particularly in capital-intensive industries like energy and aviation—will be deterred by the arbitrary ceiling and the uncertain waiver process. The added bureaucracy may not slow projects on the Front Range, but in rural counties like ours, it could be the difference between a project moving forward or being canceled altogether. 

Mesa County is already facing significant economic headwinds: 

• We are contending with a $400,000 shortfall in our senior nutrition program. 
• 46,000 residents rely on public benefits, and our public schools remain among the most underfunded in Colorado. 
• Mesa County hospitals are facing $18.6 million in unreimbursed care annually. 

We cannot afford additional barriers to job creation and investment. 

We urge you to reconsider HB25-1296. If passed as written, it would effectively cut off a vital economic lifeline to Mesa County and other rural regions across Colorado. The data speaks for itself. The EZ program has brought real capital to our county. HB25-1296 would eliminate the industries most willing to invest in us. On behalf of the residents of Mesa County, we respectfully request that you oppose this bill or pursue meaningful amendments that preserve rural Colorado’s ability to compete and thrive.