HB 24-1001

HB 24-1001 extends the Rural Jump-Start Program in Colorado until July 1, 2025. This program provides grants and tax credits to support economic development in rural areas by attracting new businesses and hiring local workers. The bill also increases funding for administrative costs and expands eligibility for certain tax credits. It limits the number of zones that can be approved each year but raises the cap on the number of new hires eligible for tax credits within those zones. Since it has been signed into law, this program is now active with increased support until 2025.

Official Summary

The act continues the rural jump-start zone grant program (grant program) until July 1, 2025, and the grant money in the rural jump-start grant fund account reverts to the general fund on June 30, 2025. The act changes the total allowable administrative cost of the grant program from $100,000 per fiscal year to $300,000 total for the sum of all fiscal years that the grant program is in effect. The new business income tax credit and the new hire income tax credit, which are benefits under the grant program, are extended for 5 years and are available for income tax years commencing before January 1, 2031. The act prohibits the Colorado office of economic development (office) from approving more than 3 rural jump-start zones in counties with populations of less than 100,000 in any year. The number of credit certificates that the office may issue in each approved rural jump-start zone in one income tax year for all new hires employed by all new businesses is increased from 300 to 600 for businesses that are in one of the 14 industries that the office targets for economic development in the state. The act appropriates $873,304 from the rural jump-start zone grant fund account to the office of the governor for use by economic development programs. To implement the act, the office may use this appropriation for rural jump-start. APPROVED by Governor May 29, 2024 EFFECTIVE May 29, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Related Legislation

Votes