Strategic Fund Job Growth Incentive

Strategic Fund Job Growth Incentive

Funds company relocation and expansion through Colorado hiring incentives to strengthen real-world implementation.

Eligibility · United States · US-CO

The Strategic Fund Job Growth Incentive is a rolling cash payment program administered by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) through its Global Business Development division, providing direct financial incentives to companies that create and maintain new permanent jobs in Colorado when the state is in documented interstate competition for the project. The program is sector-agnostic: any for-profit business considering a relocation or expansion project for which Colorado competes with at least one other state is potentially eligible. There is no announced application deadline — applications are reviewed on a rolling basis by the Colorado Economic Development Commission (EDC).

The incentive pays up to $6,500 per net new permanent job, disbursed over five years as jobs are created and maintained. Payment rates vary by wage level and location. In standard counties, companies creating jobs at 100% of the county average wage receive $3,000 per job; at 120%, $4,000; at 140% or above, $6,500. In economically disadvantaged areas — Enterprise Zones, Opportunity Zones, Rural Jump-Start counties, and designated just-transition counties including Delta, Gunnison, Moffat, Montrose, Morgan, Pueblo, Rio Blanco, and Routt — the $6,500 maximum is accessible at lower wage thresholds. Jobs created in eligible just-transition counties receive the maximum $6,500 per eligible job regardless of wage level. Net new jobs must be permanent, full-time, and maintained for at least one year. Applicants must also secure a 1-to-1 local government matching commitment — acceptable as cash per new job, sales tax abatement, business or property tax reduction, or waived building permits and fees.

The application process requires first contacting OEDIT's Global Business Development staff to confirm eligibility, then submitting an initial package — including a Colorado employment plan, cost differential analysis, and three years of historical company financials — at least 41 days before the relevant EDC meeting, followed by a full application approximately 20 days before the meeting. Critically, the company may not start or publicly announce the proposed Colorado project until EDC approval is obtained. If approved, the company has 18 months to begin job creation. The incentive cannot be combined with the Job Growth Incentive Tax Credit for the same net new jobs.