Colorado Tax Incentives
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Colorado Tax Incentives
Page Contents
- Assistive Technology Funding Sources
- Bioscience Discovery Evaluation Grant Program
- Business Loan Funds
- Certified Capital Companies (CAPCO) Program
- Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry
- Colorado Business Financial Assistance Options
- Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) - Services for Employers
- Colorado's Enterprise Zone Tax Credit Program
- Colorado FIRST / Existing Industry Customized Training Programs
- Colorado’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade
- Infrastructure Assistance Program
- Pikes Peak Workforce Center (PPWFC)
- Strategic Fund
- Telecommuting Program
Assistive Technology Funding Sources
AT Funding Sources is a searchable online database tool. It assists with locating needed funding to purchase AT devices and services for their specific needs.
Bioscience Discovery Evaluation Grant Program
The Bioscience Discovery Evaluation Grant Program was created by the Colorado legislature to foster development of the industry in Colorado, supporting both new business development and quality jobs for Coloradans.
Job creation brought forth by these grants can include employment for workers with disabilities who qualify for these types of jobs.
Bioscience Discovery Evaluation Rules and Application PDF
Business Loan Funds
Every year, the State of Colorado receives an allocation of federal funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to use for both community development and economic development efforts. The Colorado Office of Economic Development receives approximately one-third (1/3) of the annual allocation of funds to use specifically for economic development efforts statewide.
The state has 15 Business Loan Fund locations which have service areas covering the majority of the rural areas only. The fifteen programs are responsible for promoting and fostering economic development efforts at the local level by providing financial assistance in the form of loans and loan guarantees to businesses in their respective regions.
Capital from these loans can be used for job creation and retention for people with disabilities, who as a group tend to have a low employment rate. Jobs brought forth as a result of these loans could help end this distressing cycle of unemployment for this population.
Certified Capital Companies (CAPCO) Program
The CAPCO Program was created by the Colorado Legislature with the goal of making venture capital funds available to new or expanding small businesses throughout Colorado.
Part of the expansion created by this funding can be employment opportunities for workers with disabilities.
Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry
The Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry champions free enterprise, a healthy business environment and economic prosperity for all Coloradans.
The Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry is the only business association that works at the Colorado State Capitol to improve the business climate for all sizes of business from a statewide, multi-industry perspective.
Colorado Business Financial Assistance Options
This publication gives summaries on some of the financing options and programs available to Colorado businesses.
Colorado Business Financial Assistance PDF
Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation is committed to helping its employer partners find candidates who are skilled, loyal, and committed to success. Even after placement, employers and employees get ongoing support from DVR's professional staff, including job training, guidance on the ADA regulations, and information on disability and employment guidelines. DVR can also help with financial incentives and facilitation of tax credits.
Colorado’s Enterprise Zone Tax Credit Program
Colorado's Enterprise Zone program provides tax incentives to encourage businesses to locate and expand in designated economically distressed areas of the state.
Very often, people with disabilities live in urban areas that are depressed and in need of revitalization. Hiring disabled individuals from these zones would reverse the unemployment trend among this population and give their neighborhoods a much needed lift.
Information on the Enhanced Rural Enterprise Zone Job Credits.
General Information about Colorado State Enterprise Zones PDF
Colorado FIRST / Existing Industry Customized Training Programs
The state of Colorado offers two grant programs that provide training to companies' employees. They are the Colorado First Grant and the Existing Industry Grant.
Colorado First grants are for companies that are relocating to Colorado or existing companies that are undertaking a major expansion.
Existing Industry grants are designed for Colorado companies that are implementing new technology to remain competitive and keep jobs in Colorado. Approved training is for transferable job skills that support both the company's economic competitiveness by re-training its workers in new skills, while enhancing the workers' long-term employment opportunities.
Frequently, people with disabilities don’t have the skills necessary to obtain and keep competitive employment. Through these programs, disabled employees can gain the skills needed to get a job and successfully advance in their career.
Additional information on Colorado First and Existing Industry Training Funds.
Application Criteria for FY12 Colorado First Training Funds PDF
Application Criteria for FY12 Colorado Existing Industries Training Funds PDF
Colorado’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade
The Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) fosters a positive business climate that encourages quality economic development through financial and technical assistance throughout the State of Colorado. This site is also Colorado’s Headquarters for the American Recovery and Reinvestment.
Infrastructure Assistance Program
The infrastructure assistance program is designed to create new, permanent jobs and retain existing jobs for low- and moderate-income persons. This program encourages new business development, expansions and retentions of businesses located in non-entitlement cities and counties.
The goal of this program is to generate employment for people who have low to moderate incomes. Many persons with disabilities fall into this category and could benefit from this kind of job creation.
Infrastructure Assistance Fact Sheet PDF
Pikes Peak Workforce Center (PPWFC)
The Pikes Peak Workforce Center (PPWFC) supports business and promotes employment by providing market-driven solutions for our community to succeed in the global economy. PPWFC helps businesses solve their workforce-related business problems and helps residents of El Paso and Teller counties with career transition.
For employers the Center provides skilled, qualified workers – some of whom are disabled - and access to the training and consulting they need to improve and increase their business. PPWFC links employers and job seekers faster than ever before.
PPWFC helps businesses solve workforce-related problems using the following resources:
- Recruiting, job matching, performance coaching, hiring events and job posting
- Specialized training for workers and supervisors
- Financial and tax credits services
- Labor market information
- Hiring veterans
Any business in Colorado interested in hiring someone with a disability should contact PPWFC.
Strategic Fund
The Strategic Fund provides a commitment for a performance-based incentive payment to qualifying companies that have created net new jobs paying above average wages that have met other requirements. The program is designed to support and encourage new business development, business expansions and relocations that have generated new jobs throughout the state.
One of the objectives of this program is to encourage business development and expansion. Part of the development could be jobs for employees with disabilities.
Telecommuting Program
Teleworking or telecommuting allows employees to work from home or another off-site location either part-time or on a full-time basis. Employees are "hooked" up to the office usually by computer, fax and telephone to communicate with their employers.
Benefits of teleworking include: Increased employee productivity by eliminating the hassles of driving to and from the office; savings for employers on office space and parking costs; reduced absenteeism; recruitment and retention of skilled employees with disabilities; improved customer service; reduced traffic congestion and improved air quality.
Telecommuting is a viable alternative to working in a traditional office setting, especially for a worker with a disability. With telecommuting, a person can work from home without the stress of a daily commute to work.
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