Business help, from City Hall to Washington

Brighton Investment Program (BIP) grant

Brighton Economic Development Corporation

Reimburses up to $10,000 a year on a 50/50 match; the first $3,000 of exterior work is reimbursed at 100%. Covers improvements, equipment, marketing and workforce training.

The 2026 window is closed. The 2027 window is expected to run February to October.

Who qualifies:

Licensed businesses inside Brighton city limits that own their space or lease it for 2+ years. Not home-based businesses or nonprofits. Once every 3 years.

How to apply:

Apply online through Brighton EDC, first come first served. 303-655-2155, info@brightonedc.org.

BURA Façade Improvement Grant

Brighton Urban Renewal Authority (BURA)

Reimburses street-visible façade work; you match at least 25%. Two contractor bids and a pre-application meeting are required.

BURA’s page lists a December 30, 2026 deadline but also says the 2026 window is closed. Call before you start.

Who qualifies:

Owners, or tenants with the owner’s written approval, in the Core Downtown BURA area.

How to apply:

Book the pre-application meeting at least two weeks before the deadline: 303-655-2150.

Brighton Hearts the Arts rental assistance

Brighton Urban Renewal Authority (BURA)

Up to 50% of a year’s lease, up to $15,000, first come first served.

Funds may already be used up for 2026.

Who qualifies:

Arts nonprofits and for-profit galleries and studios leasing space downtown.

How to apply:

Apply through BURA while funds last.

Brighton small business loans

Brighton EDC with Colorado Enterprise Fund

Fixed-rate loans up to $50,000 for up to 5 years, with free coaching, for businesses a bank turned down.

Who qualifies:

Businesses inside Brighton city limits that can’t get traditional financing.

How to apply:

Contact Brighton EDC (303-655-2155) or apply with Colorado Enterprise Fund.

Brighton EDC business visits

Brighton Economic Development Corporation

Free visits, expansion help, market data and a go-between with City and County departments when something is stuck.

Who qualifies:

Any Brighton business.

How to apply:

Ask for a visit: 303-655-2155.

Hiring and training help (free)

Adams County Workforce & Business Center

Pays 50% of wages while a new hire trains on the job, can cover interns’ wages, and funds training for current staff to avoid layoffs. Also free job postings and hiring events.

Who qualifies:

Employers hiring or training Adams County workers (trainees must qualify).

How to apply:

Business services team: 720-523-6890, acbussvc@adamscountyco.gov.

Adams County Community Loan Fund

Adams County with Colorado Enterprise Fund

Fixed-rate loans up to $50,000 for up to 60 months: working capital, equipment, inventory, lease payments, even consolidating debt. Free help for the life of the loan.

Who qualifies:

Adams County businesses, generally under $2 million in sales and 20 employees, that banks won’t finance.

How to apply:

Apply with Colorado Enterprise Fund: 303-860-0242.

Adams County business navigation

Adams County Economic Development

Free help with county permits and incentives, alerts about grants, and the Adams County Enterprise Zone.

Who qualifies:

Businesses in Adams County.

How to apply:

720-523-6800, EnterpriseZone@adamscountyco.gov.

Protest your property value

Adams County Assessor

Free. If the county’s value for your building is too high, a protest can lower the tax. Next notices of value arrive in May 2027.

Who qualifies:

Property owners. Tenants can’t protest, so ask your landlord if property tax is passed through in your lease.

How to apply:

Protest to the Assessor by June 8; then the County Board of Equalization by September 15. Someone filing for you needs a notarized letter.

Equipment (business personal property) exemption

Adams County Assessor (state law)

If your furniture, fixtures and equipment in the county are worth $56,000 or less, they are exempt from property tax for 2026 ($58,000 from 2027).

Who qualifies:

Every business with equipment in Adams (or Weld) County.

How to apply:

File the declaration (DS 056) by April 15 if the Assessor sends one. Late filing costs $50 or 15% of the tax, whichever is less.

Free one-on-one business advising

North Metro Denver SBDC (Front Range Community College)

Free, confidential advisors for finance, cash flow, marketing and planning, plus low-cost workshops. Bilingual help at the Thornton center.

Who qualifies:

Small businesses in Adams and Broomfield counties.

How to apply:

Request an advisor online: 303-460-1032.

Colorado Startup Loan Fund

Colorado OEDIT

Loans of $500 to $150,000 for up to 10 years through community lenders, including for businesses that have had serious setbacks.

Who qualifies:

Colorado for-profit businesses with 25 or fewer employees and $2 million or less in sales.

How to apply:

Apply directly with a participating lender listed on the state’s page.

Cash Collateral Support

Colorado OEDIT and CHFA

When a bank likes your loan but wants more collateral, the state can pledge cash covering up to 35% of the loan (max $1 million). 4% fee.

Who qualifies:

Businesses with fewer than 750 employees whose lender documents a collateral gap.

How to apply:

Ask your lender to apply through CHFA.

Enterprise Zone tax credits

Colorado OEDIT, run locally by Adams County

State income tax credits: 3% of equipment you buy, 12% of training costs, $1,100+ per new employee, 25% for rehabbing a long-vacant commercial building, and 25% for donations to approved local projects.

Who qualifies:

Businesses at an address inside a zone. Boundaries changed January 1, 2026, so check your address on the state map.

How to apply:

Pre-certify on the state portal before you buy or train, then certify after year end.

Skill Advance Colorado training grant

Colorado OEDIT and community colleges

Grants for custom employee training through community colleges, including training that helps prevent layoffs.

Who qualifies:

Colorado for-profit businesses.

How to apply:

Rolling. Contact OEDIT or the community college system.

Colorado Small Business Navigator

Colorado OEDIT

One place to ask which state program fits you, in English or Spanish.

Who qualifies:

Any Colorado small business owner.

How to apply:

Send the inquiry form on the state’s page.

SBA 7(a) and SBA Express loans

U.S. Small Business Administration

Bank loans the SBA guarantees: up to $5 million for working capital, refinancing, equipment or buildings. SBA Express (up to $500,000) can be a revolving line of credit. No collateral needed up to $50,000.

Who qualifies:

Small for-profit businesses that can’t get credit on reasonable terms elsewhere.

How to apply:

Apply through a lender; SBA Lender Match finds one.

SBA Microloans

U.S. Small Business Administration

Up to $50,000 (about $13,000 on average) for working capital, inventory or equipment, through nonprofit lenders. Can’t refinance debt.

Who qualifies:

Small businesses and startups.

How to apply:

Find a Colorado microlender on the SBA page.

SBA 504 loans

SBA through B:Side Capital (formerly Colorado Lending Source)

Long-term fixed-rate loans up to $5.5 million to buy or renovate a building or long-life equipment. Not for working capital.

Who qualifies:

Small businesses buying or improving the property they use.

How to apply:

Apply through a Certified Development Company such as B:Side Capital.

SCORE volunteer mentors

SCORE Denver & Wyoming

A free mentor for as long as you run your business, plus low-cost workshops.

Who qualifies:

Anyone starting or running a business.

How to apply:

Request a mentor online.

Mi Casa Women’s Business Center

Mi Casa Resource Center (SBA Women’s Business Center)

One-on-one consulting and training, free or low cost. Open to everyone, focused on women entrepreneurs.

Who qualifies:

Any entrepreneur.

How to apply:

303-573-1302.

Veterans Business Outreach Center

Colorado Veterans Business Outreach Center

Free counseling, training and business plan help.

Who qualifies:

Veterans, service members, and military spouses and families.

How to apply:

Contact the center online.

Selling to the government

Colorado APEX Accelerator

Free help finding, bidding on and winning city, state and federal contracts, including registration.

Who qualifies:

Colorado businesses.

How to apply:

Request counseling online.

Small business health care tax credit

IRS

Up to 50% of the premiums you pay for employees’ health insurance, for two years.

Who qualifies:

Employers with fewer than 25 full-time equivalents who pay at least half of premiums for coverage bought through the SHOP Marketplace.

How to apply:

Claim it on IRS Form 8941 with your return. Ask your tax preparer.

Work Opportunity Tax Credit

IRS

A credit for hiring people from certain groups, such as veterans. It lapsed for hires after December 31, 2025; Congress has renewed it retroactively before.

Who qualifies:

Employers hiring from the eligible groups.

How to apply:

Keep filing Form 8850 within 28 days of each eligible hire in case it is renewed.

United Power lighting and equipment rebates

United Power (Brighton’s electric co-op)

About 20% back on LED retrofits of existing fixtures, plus motors and drives, up to $10,000 a year. Lower bills every month after.

Who qualifies:

United Power commercial members.

How to apply:

Call the commercial advisor before you buy and apply within 90 days of purchase.

C-PACE energy upgrade financing

Colorado C-PACE (Adams County participates)

Up to 100% financing for energy, water and resilience upgrades, repaid on the property tax bill for up to 20 years. A faster path covers projects up to $500,000.

Who qualifies:

Owners of commercial property in Adams County.

How to apply:

Start on the Colorado Energy Office page.

Kiva 0% crowdfunded loans

Kiva U.S.

$1,000 to $15,000 at 0% interest with no fees, funded by your network and Kiva lenders. Takes 2 to 3 months.

Who qualifies:

Small businesses, no minimum credit score.

How to apply:

Apply online; invite 5 to 40 people to lend first.