• Board of Directors:

  • Lola Spradley, President

  • Kay Whitley, Secretary/ Treasurer 

  • Mayor Charles Bryant (representing the City of Walsenburg)

  • John Galusha 

  • Jim Littlefield

  • Kerrie Meyler

  • Tim Tady (appointed by the Town of La Veta)

  • Wynnelle Turner

• Professional Staff:​

  • Carlton Croft, HCED Director ccroft@huerfano.us 

Our vision is to create a network of businesses to promote Economic Development and enhance the community by providing education, advocacy, and promotion throughout Huerfano County                         www.huerfano.org

• Qualified Opportunity Zones were created by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. These zones are designed to spur economic development and job creation in distressed communities throughout the country and U.S. possessions by providing tax benefits to investors who invest eligible capital into these communities. Taxpayers may defer tax on eligible capital gains by making an appropriate investment in a Qualified Opportunity Fund and meeting other requirements.

• The Walsenburg Census Track is a Qualified Opportunity Zone.

• For more information, visit: https://choosecolorado.com/programs-initiatives/opportunity-zones/

• Huerfano County, Walsenburg, and La Veta are all designated Rural Jump Start Zones. These Zones provide a variety of tax credit incentives for businesses not currently operating that either start up in Huerfano County or move to it from outside Colorado, and export goods and/or services outside the County, or provide unique goods and/or services that people come from outside the County to purchase. Rural Jump Start Zones provide tax credits for-

  • 100% of County and municipality business personal property taxes

  • a portion of State income and sales and use taxes 

  • 100% of State income taxes for new employees for the business who have been employed for at least six months. 

• These tax credits extend for four years, with the possibility of extending them for another four years. Businesses must apply to participate in the Zone through Huerfano County Economic Development. Businesses accepted into the Zone can apply for a Rural Jump Start Zone Grant of up to $20,000 and $2,500 per new hire 

• For more information, visit: https://oedit.colorado.gov/rural-jump-start-program

• Contracting Advantage

  • The HUBZone program gives preferential treatment to businesses in historically underutilized business zones.

  • Joining the program makes a business eligible for the program’s set-aside contracts and certain limited competition contracts

  • HUBZone-certified businesses get a 10% price evaluation preference in full and open contract competitions

  • Participating businesses can still compete for contract awards under other programs.

• Huerfano County is a HUBZone and small businesses within the County can take advantage of the benefits of the program

• Program Qualifications:

  • Be a small business under SBA rules, that is at least 51% percent owned by US Citizens, a Community Development Corporation, an agricultural cooperative, or an Indian tribe

  • Have the principal office of the business located in a HUBZone

  • Have at least 35% of employees live in a HUBZone

• Prospective applicants have to create an account with the SBA and have:

  • a DUNS number,

  • a Central Contractor Registration, and

  • a Dynamic Small Business Search profile.

• For more information go to: www.sba.gov/HUBZone

• Huerfano County is an enhanced rural enterprise zone.  This status makes Huerfano County businesses eligible for a number of incentives such as:

  • New Employee Tax Credit

    • Since Huerfano County is an Enhanced Rural Enterprise Zone and businesses qualify for a $2,000 credit per new employee

  • Investment Tax Credit

    • Businesses investing in Enterprise Zones through business personal property can earn a 3% tax credit

  • Job Training Credit

    • Companies that implement a qualified job-training program 12% of their eligible costs.

  • Employer Sponsored Health Insurance

    • $1000 per net new employee insured under a qualified health plan for which the employer pays 50% of the costs

  • Vacant Commercial Building Rehabilitation

    • 25% of the rehabilitation costs for a building that has been vacant for 2 years.  Limited to $50,000

  • Commercial Vehicle Investment

    • Investment in commercial trucks, tractors, or semi-trailers registered in CO and based in an Enterprise Zone quality for a 1.5% credit

• For more information visit ChooseColorado.com/ez

• 121 W City Center Dr. Ste 150 Pueblo

• 719-549-3245

• The Colorado Small Business Development Center Network (CSBDC) is dedicated to helping existing and new businesses grow and prosper in Colorado by providing free and confidential consulting and no- or low-cost training programs.

• The CSBDC has locations around the state with a team of business experts ready to help you create and retain jobs, secure loans, increase sales, win government contracts, obtain certifications and more.