Relocate Your Business
Looking to relocate your business? 
Your relocation to Rio Grande County starts now! 
Let us be your resource for success……..

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.

Sites & Building Inventory

Search available Commercial sites and buildings by using this Real Estate IDX search tool to help you browse and find properties for Sale or Lease in Rio Grande County. For further information on any of the properties, you can click the ‘Contact’ button and send a message directly to the listing agent for that property. Or for more personalized assistance contact us.
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State Tax Incentives

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Job Growth Tax Incentives and Credits

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. 

Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT)

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.

Enterprise Zones

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.

The designation of Enhanced Rural Enterprise Zones (EREZ) was authorized under C.R.S 39-30-103.2 to further support economically distressed rural counties.  EREZ counties are in an Enterprise Zone and meet two of the following five criteria:

  1. County unemployment rate greater than 50% above state average.
  2. County per capita income less than 75% of state average.
  3. County population growth rate less than 25% of state average.
  4. Total non-residential assessed value ranks in lower half of all counties.
  5. County population less than 5,000.

The Enhanced Rural Enterprise Zone (EREZ) program provides greater financial incentives to businesses to promote and encourage new job creation in designated economically lagging rural Enterprise Zone counties.  Businesses that qualify for the $500 NBF Jobs Credit and are located in an EREZ, qualify for an additional $2,000 EREZ Jobs Credit.  Businesses that qualify for the $500 NBF Ag Processing Credit, qualify for the $500 NBF Jobs Credit, and are located in an EREZ qualify for the additional $500 EREZ Ag Processing Credit and qualify for the additional $2,000 EREZ Jobs Credit.  See below for the calculation and total for the two EREZ tax credits:

$500
+ $2,000
$2,500

NBF Jobs Credit
EREZ Jobs Credit
Total EREZ Job Credit

 

$500
$500
$500
+ $2,000
$3,500

NBF Ag Processing Credit
EREZ Ag Processing Credit
NBF Jobs Credit
EREZ Jobs Credit
Total EREZ Ag Processing Credit

The state promulgates a revised list of eligible counties every two years.  When a county goes off the EREZ list, taxpayers who have future job creation plans in such a county may file a certification for an extension of up to five additional years to continue claiming EREZ credits on additional, planned job creation.

Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Mineral, Rio Grande, and Saguache counties have been designated as Enhanced Rural Enterprise Zones for 2009 and 2010.

What are Enhanced Rural EZ Credits?
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.
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Regional Financing

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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. Call us today or go here to learn more

Custom Fit with Rio Grande County

Rio Grande County actively participates in Investment Tax Credits, Job Training Credits, New Business Facility Jobs Credits, Enhance Rural Enterprise Zone, New Business Facility (NBF) Agricultural Processing Jobs Credit and NBF Health Insurance Credits, R & D Increase Tax Credit, Vacant Building Rehabilitation Tax Credit, Manufacturing and Mining Sales and Use Tax Exemption, Contribution Tax Credit, the Commercial Vehicle Investment Tax Credit.  Projects are jurisdictionally specific.  Please contact us here with questions about Rio Grande County incentives that might help you, and learn more here at Rio Grande County's website.

Municipal Assistance

The City of Monte Vista is super-easy to work with as a community.

Glenn R. Dugan Jr.
Imperial Group after the development on BLM property in Monte Vista in 2015
The Monte Vista City Council has adopted an Economic Development Assistance Policy to provide incentives for the retention and/or expansion of existing businesses and to encourage the establishment of new targeted businesses within the city.  The City offers property tax rebates and waivers or reductions in fees.  For more information on the goals, requirements, assistance guidelines and application, please see the City of Monte Vista here. 
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Personal Assistance

URGED frequently keeps us apprised of new projects which they/we believe will affect our business success over the coming years.

Raleigh Burt
Business Development Manager, Kristi Mountain Sports

We are so fortunate to come to an area that had the foresight to taking care of their own community and setting up a group such as URGED.

Joyce Humiston
President/CEO, River Valley Inn, Inc.
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We have a wealth of resources at our fingertips……………. and rapid response teams to help you with your specific project, whether it be relocating your business, growing your business, or starting a new business. Our collaborative efforts set us apart!  Visit us now, your first-stop-shop here.

One-Stop-Shop
  • 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

Chambers of Commerce

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:
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Helpful Links

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Government Links

State of Colorado

We are proud to be

San Luis Valley Colorado Genuine - Monte Vista, Del Norte, South Fork, Rio Grande County