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OZ 2.0 | State Resource

Colorado

Public process

Last checked 2026-06-16

360

Total eligible tracts

101

Rural eligible

90

Max designations (25%)

0

Days to state deadline

Nomination process

OEDIT has been running a multi-month public engagement process since fall 2025 to inform Governor Polis's nomination of up to 90 of Colorado's 360 eligible tracts. Regional convenings ran through April 2026; an in-person Western Slope event was held May 11 at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction. OEDIT has published a public GIS mapping tool and an online feedback form at oedit.colorado.gov/colorado-opportunity-zone-program through which any stakeholder can submit tract-level input; the community submission deadline is June 30, 2026. Email oedit.info@state.co.us or call (303) 892-3840 for questions on how rural-flagged tracts are weighted in OEDIT's review.

Application portal →

State deadline: 2026-06-30

Eligible tracts

Loading 360 eligible tracts…

View on EIG map → IRS appendix (XLSX) Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-14 · EIG DCI 2023 · FFIEC CRA 2025 · Urban Institute 2026
County Eligible tracts
Denver County 51
Adams County 43
Arapahoe County 38
El Paso County 36
Weld County 21
Jefferson County 20
Larimer County 20
Pueblo County 18
Boulder County 14
Fremont County 9

Data context

17

Eligible tracts in EIG DCI top distress quintile

The EIG Distressed Communities Index (2019–2023) is referenced in many state scoring rubrics. Quintile 1 = most distressed. See whether OZ 1.0 reached the most distressed places →

3

Counties with eligible tracts designated USDA persistent poverty

Persistent poverty = 20%+ poverty rate in every census 1980–2010. Source: USDA ERS County Typology Codes (2015 edition). Relevant for USDA RD program eligibility and QROF rural bonus. See QROF rural bonus mechanics →

68

Prior NMTC investments in eligible OZ tracts

CDFI Fund NMTC Public Data Release (2024). Indicates prior CDFI capital deployment track record in these tracts. See how NMTC and OZ stack →

302

Eligible tracts with CRA designation (LMI or distressed/underserved)

Banks earn CRA credit for investing in low- or moderate-income tracts (Track 1), and in non-metropolitan middle-income tracts officially designated distressed or underserved by FFIEC (Track 2). When an OZ project sits in a CRA-eligible tract, bank capital can satisfy CRA obligations while generating OZ tax benefits. How CRA and OZ interact →

Look up a specific tract (FFIEC) → Source: FFIEC Census Flat File 2026, joined to IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-14 eligible tracts.

149

Eligible tracts in top investability quintile (Urban Institute model)

The Urban Institute investability model scores OZ-eligible tracts by predicted likelihood of attracting private capital, based on OZ 1.0 investment patterns. Quintile 1 = highest predicted investability among scored tracts. Not all tracts are scored — coverage reflects tracts with sufficient OZ 1.0 data.

How to influence the nomination

The submission window is open. Here's what to do:

  1. Review the full process in the Nomination process section above.
  2. Open the submission portal →
  3. File before the state deadline: 2026-06-30.
  4. Build your case: document census data, existing development assets, letters of support from partners, and community need.
  5. For coalition-building tactics and sample language, see how-to-advocate.
  6. For step-by-step nomination documentation guidance, see the Accelerator for America OZ Designation Toolkit →

Who to contact

Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT)

https://oedit.colorado.gov/colorado-opportunity-zone-program

oedit.info@state.co.us

(303) 892-3840

Certified CDFIs

18 certified CDFIs headquartered in Colorado. CDFI Fund certified list →

USDA Rural Development

USDA RD Colorado State Office →

Rural LISC

Rural LISC →

Native / tribal

No formal tribal consultation process has been published for Colorado's OZ 2.0 nomination. If your jurisdiction contains or is adjacent to tribal land, contact the relevant Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO) or tribal government directly before submitting a nomination.

Eligible tract counts: IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-14 (April 6, 2026). Rural designation: Notice 2025-50, Section 4.01. Status tier last verified 2026-06-16. Full methodology.