Tax Credits

There a variety of programs that encourage and reward your business growth, and we are here to walk you through them and help you identify the best fit for your enterprise. 

Denver Business Investment Program

Denver's business owners can apply for a business personal property tax credit offered through the Denver Business Investment Program. This program encourages start-ups and rewards businesses of all sizes that expand their operations in our city. Qualifying businesses can receive a tax credit based on the taxes that would have been owed on new, eligible business personal property added through their new or expanded facility. This credit covers the General Fund portion assessed by the City & County of Denver.

Businesses are encouraged to apply if they are:

  • A new business (start-up)
  • A business new to Denver that relocated from outside Denver or added a new facility in Denver
  • An existing business already located within the City and County of Denver, through expansion, that made significant capital investments and/or job creation. If you have an existing business, it must meet at least one of these expansion requirements in 2024 to qualify: 
    • Your increased investment was at least $1 million in business expansion;
    • Your increased investment was at least 100% of your prior business capital level;
    • You increased by at least 10 employees over your preceding 12‐month average; or
    • You increased by at least 10 percent in employment over your preceding 12‐month average

For more information, please visit our program page.

Applications are open until Wednesday, July 2, 2025.

Apply Today!  

Business Incentive Fund

The Business Incentive Fund (BIF) is a significant and unique tool for the City and County of Denver to support a competitive relocation to or expansion within Denver. Denver Economic Development & Opportunity (DEDO) is able to support only a handful of projects every year through the BIF program.

Projects under consideration are evaluated on a number of factors, including the direct fiscal benefit of the project to the city, creation/retention of quality jobs across industries, and demonstrated alignment with the City’s economic development goals and its values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Funds are dispersed only on performance. Every negotiated incentive offer is unique and each has a defined criteria and payout terms, which link directly both to the business decisions and the direct fiscal benefit to the city. While job creation is a primary goal of such incentives, the nature of the business may dictate a different measurable factor upon which incentive funds are dispersed. 

Denver Enterprise Zone

Change is Coming, Enterprise Zone 2026 Boundary Redesignation

About This Change

Per the Enterprise Zone statute, the State of Colorado's Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) and the Colorado Economic Development Commission are required to review the local enterprise zone areas once every ten years to ensure that eligibility criteria continue to be met. As a result of this review, we anticipate that the boundaries of the Denver Enterprise Zone will change.

OEDIT has recently started this revision process in close collaboration with local enterprise zone administrators. This revision process will be completed in phases, with new revised zone maps expected to be finalized in January 2026.

Community members can engage now and provide input by:

The Denver Enterprise Zone Program team is looking forward to engaging with our Denver community throughout this process. For any additional support, please contact our Denver Enterprise Zone Team at EZAdmin@denvergov.org 

Tentative Timeline

The State of Colorado’s Office of Economic and Development and International Trade (OEDIT) will provide a more specific timeline as dates are decided upon. Please visit OEDIT’s website here for more information and to provide input. 

  • Now – Spring 2025: The public is encouraged to provide feedback, including suggesting areas for inclusion or exclusion in the Enterprise Zones, using the methods outlined above.
  • Spring / Summer 2025: Enterprise Zone Administrators’ applications for new zone designations are due
  • Summer / Fall 2025: OEDIT & the Economic Development Commission review and ultimately approve new zone designations
  • January 1, 2026: New zone designations and boundaries are effective

About Denver Enterprise Zone Program

The Denver Enterprise Zone Program is a State of Colorado tax credit program that allows businesses located within a specific geographic area to receive tax credits against their state income tax liability for qualifying activities, such as job creation, employee training and investment in business personal property. Denver's designated Enterprise Zone (EZ) includes over 30 square miles of commercially zoned real estate.

There are ten different state tax credits available to businesses within the Zone. If your business will perform an activity that will earn an EZ tax credit, the State requires that you pre-certify annually prior to beginning the activity that will earn the credit. Pre-certification can be requested year-round and must be approved prior to the commencement of the activity.

Contact

For additional inquires please reach out to:
Karra Walker, Enterprise Zone Program Coordinator
Email: EZAdmin@denvergov.org
Phone: (720) 467-7041

Resources

Contact

We are here to assist you with any questions about our business support programs that you might have. 

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