If you are thinking about locating your business to a new area or expanding a business here, we welcome you!  You are looking at the right place to live and conduct business – Colorado’s beautiful San Luis Valley. Our opportunities, resources for business success, and strong Valley-wide collaborative efforts set us apart. Couple that with the stunning landscapes and recreational sports in the great outdoors, we offer you a superior Quality of Life.  Contact us today to find out more or call us at 719-850-0909.

The Colorado Economic Development Commission (EDC) is responsible for developing incentive programs to help recruit and retain businesses.

• One of the primary incentives that they use are the Job Growth Incentive Tax Credit, which reduces FICA payments by local businesses based on job creation and wage rates; more information can be found here.
• The other primary incentive is the Job Growth Strategic Fund, which provides cash incentives for job creation based on wages. More information on the Strategic Fund can be found here. 

The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) is the state agency that manages a variety of incentive programs. A list of incentives offered by OEDIT can be found here. They are responsible for overseeing the retention and expansion of our Colorado’s existing businesses and helping to recruit new businesses to the State. Their programs are designed to assist targeted businesses and workforce development.

The Colorado Enterprise Zone (EZ) Program was created by the Colorado Legislature (C.R.S. Title 39, Article 30) to promote a business friendly environment in economically targeted areas by offering state income tax credits that incentivize businesses to locate and develop. Rio Grande County is designated as an Enterprise Zone. Businesses here may qualify for up to nine Tax Credits that encourage job creation and investment in the Enterprise Zone. More information can be found here.

All of Rio Grande County is also within the boundaries of The Enhanced Rural Enterprise Zone (EREZ). This program provides greater financial incentives to businesses to promote and encourage new job creation in designated economically lagging rural Enterprise Zone counties (C.R.S. 39‐30‐ 103.2 and 105.1); more information can be found here.

Both programs are managed by the San Luis Valley Development Resources Group. More information about the process and examples of projects in Rio Grande County (part of Region 8, the San Luis Valley) can be found here.

More general information about Enterprise Zone application and process is available here.

Region 8 offers a revolving loan program to assist with “gap” financing for businesses. This program was designed to help with financing when other alternatives are otherwise not available. This program is administered by the San Luis Valley Development Resources Group (SLVDRG). For more information, please see SLVDRG details here.  The San Luis Valley Revolving Loan Fund provides gap-financing loans for business expansion, start-ups, and retentions. Businesses must be able to provide permanent jobs in the assisted projects and fill a majority (60%) of the positions with low- or moderate-income persons. More detailed information on qualification, terms, and guidelines is available here. 

We also have specialized “economically distressed area” business services. The Community Development Financial Institutions Program promotes revitalization in low income communities – to develop businesses, to create jobs, and to develop commercial real estate. The fund provides financial assistance and technical assistance.

• Providing accurate information in a timely manner
  • Assist with site selection
  • Assist with locating jobbers for repairs or site improvements
  • Assist with connecting to professional services
• Interfacing and collaborating with all appropriate entities at local, regional and state levels
  • Expedite development plan review and permitting
  • Liaison with governmental departments to address zoning, planning, licensing, design, and code requirements
  • Facilitating process for permits and licenses
  • Advocating on behalf of business
  • Overcoming obstacles
• Anticipating and coordinating meetings with other stakeholders
  • Enterprise Zone
  • Engineering Review
  • Fire Departments
  • Utilities
  • San Luis Valley Small Business Development Center
  • San Luis Valley Development Resources Group

Whether you are looking at or near Del Norte, Monte Vista, or South Fork, Rio Grande County has what you need with three Chambers of Commerce. The Upper Rio Grande Economic Development office works closely with the Chambers to connect with each community and the county as a whole. We can put you in touch with the people who know best for each area.
Here are the links to the local Chamber of Commerce offices:

• Monte Vista
• Del Norte
• South Fork 

• Rio Grande County government website provides information on most everything you might need to know about the county. 
• City of Monte Vista government page, providing information about employment, resources, community links, finance, and news. 
• Town of Del Norte
• Town of South Fork website, providing loads of helpful information about the government, with a business directory, vacation guide, and multitude of year-round things to do.

• Upper Rio Grande School District 
• Monte Vista 
• Sargent

• State of Colorado

• Ciello - For Fiber Optic Hookup
• Rio Grande Tourism Board 
• CDOT 
• Small Business Development Center 
• Colorado OEDIT, The San Luis Valley
• San Luis Valley Development Resources Group