Fremont Economic Development Corp. and County Commissioners Aid Businesses with Rural Jump-Start

Fremont County Commits to Rural Jump-Start Program for Economic Growth

Fremont County Commissioners recently approved a resolution to continue the county’s involvement in the Rural Jump-Start Program. This decision was made during a meeting on Tuesday and marks a significant step forward in the county’s efforts to attract new businesses and create jobs.

Diana Armstrong, a representative from the Fremont Economic Development Corp (FEDC), highlighted the benefits of the program. “It is quite a nice incentive for Fremont County,” she said. Armstrong noted that the FEDC had previously partnered with the county government in 2019 to apply for the program through the State of Colorado. The recent resolution reflects a renewal of this partnership and commitment to economic development.

Eric Bonick, Chief Financial Officer of Mytikas Manufacturing, shared his excitement about the potential impact of the program. “The facility off of Highway 120 has been defunct for quite a few decades, and we’re on the cusp of bringing it back to life,” he said. “Within about 90 days, we’ll have a ribbon cutting, and then we will start employing, hopefully, a significant amount of workers in the region to produce manufactured tiny houses as well as steel components. This program would be of great value for what we’re trying to accomplish here.”

Mytikas Manufacturing is currently based in Florence and is set to open its doors in October. The company plans to use the resources provided by the Rural Jump-Start Program to support its operations and job creation efforts.

Commissioner Chair Kevin Grantham emphasized the importance of the program in attracting new businesses to the area. “This is one of those reasons why we’re doing Rural Jump-Start, to give new businesses the leg up to come into Fremont County,” he said.

The Rural Jump-Start Program, established by the State of Colorado’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade, is a collaborative initiative involving the state, local governments, higher education institutions, and economic development organizations. Its goal is to encourage new businesses to establish or relocate to rural, economically distressed counties in Colorado—known as Rural Jump-Start zones—and hire new employees.

Launched in 2016 as a tax incentive program, the initiative expanded in 2021 to include a grant program. Tax benefits under the program include:

• Relief from state income tax for the new business
• Relief from state sales and use tax for the new business
• Relief from county personal property tax for the new business
• Relief from municipal personal property tax for the new business (in participating municipalities)
• Relief from state income tax for qualified New Hires

In addition to tax incentives, the program offers grant benefits depending on the business's location. Businesses located in a Rural Jump-Start zone can receive a matching grant of up to $15,000. If the business is located in a Rural Jump-Start zone that is also a Tier 1 Just Transition community—which Fremont County is currently listed as—the grant can increase to up to $25,000.

Fremont County is one of 35 counties across Colorado participating in the program. The resolution authorizing continued participation is valid through December 31, 2030.

For more information about the Rural Jump-Start Program, visit the official website or contact the Fremont Economic Development Corp at 855-942-4223 or 719-275-8601.

Additional Business Items Approved

During the same meeting, the Commissioners approved several other items:

• A resolution to opt out of the Electric Motor Vehicle Charging System Permitting Process established by HB 24-1173.
• A Secure Transportation Service License and Permit for Irongate Ride LLC.

These decisions reflect the ongoing efforts of Fremont County officials to support local businesses and infrastructure development.