Rural Jump-Start Operating Grant

Who can apply

• You have not started selling in Colorado when you apply. OEDIT allows some work to prepare for launch.
• You must be in a listed zone, sell to customers outside the county, and work with a local program sponsor. Sole proprietors cannot apply.
• Your core work must not compete with a business in the county or a nearby distressed county. You must plan for three or five qualifying new hires by your third full year.

What you need to fund

OEDIT's example pays back $5,000 on $20,000 of approved costs. Costs must come after approval to join the program. To claim the last $5,000 of your award, you must keep a qualifying new job for at least a year.

Your next step

Meet with your local sponsor to check the rules and funds left. New grant awards are capped at three per county. This listing covers the operating grant only.

Prepare before you apply

• Ask a local sponsor to confirm the proposed location is in a participating zone and whether the higher grant cap applies.
• Prepare to explain customers outside the county, hiring plans and how your core work differs from nearby businesses.
• Check the approval sequence with the sponsor before starting sales or committing costs.

What to watch

• A county being eligible to create a zone does not mean a zone is already participating.
• The final part of the grant depends on keeping a qualifying new job for at least a year. Plan for the cash gap.

Check business setup only if needed

A new LLC does not guarantee grant eligibility. Check the program rules before changing your business or paying for a service.