Dear Governor Polis and members of the General Assembly,

On behalf of the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce, and in strong solidarity with our neighboring communities across the Western Slope, we are writing to express deep concern and strong opposition to House Bill 25-1296. While we represent over 800 mostly small businesses employing more than 45,000 people in Mesa County, this issue extends far beyond our city limits.

HB25-1296 does not “reform” the Enterprise Zone Investment Tax Credit program – it dismantles one of the most effective tools rural Colorado has to attract investment.

By capping Enterprise Zone tax credits at $2 million per taxpayer beginning in 2026 and excluding key industries – including oil and gas extraction, aviation, fuel retail and wireless telecommunications infrastructure – this bill strikes at the heart of the economic engines driving development not just in Mesa County, but throughout Region 10, the Northwest Enterprise Zone and rural communities statewide.

The data is clear:

• In 2024, the industries HB25-1296 would exclude accounted for 65.02 percent of all Enterprise Zone tax credits claimed across the Western Slope.
• These credits supported $84.7 million in capital investment in Mesa County, Region 10,and the Northwest Enterprise Zone combined.
• If this bill passes, the majority of active investment in rural Colorado would be disqualified overnight.

This is not hypothetical – it is a direct threat to jobs, infrastructure and long-term economic viability in regions already working against geographic and economic headwinds.

The Western Slope depends on targeted incentives like the Enterprise Zone program because they make a tangible difference. These tax credits are not giveaways – they’re growth multipliers, attracting capital where it’s needed most. Gutting the program won’t level the playing field – it will pull up the ladder for communities still climbing.

And for what? A projected $10.5 million in increased General Fund revenue by FY 2026-27 – gained by stripping successful incentives from rural areas and redistributing that capital elsewhere in the state.

We urge you to oppose HB25-1296. The data, the impact and the voices of our communities all say the same thing: This bill goes too far, and it puts rural Colorado’s economic future at risk.

With urgency,

Candace Carnahan

President & CEO

Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce