Denver expects business construction-aid fund to run out by year-end

DEDO says up to $2 million could go to a redesigned fund in 2027 and beyond, subject to budget approval; it recommends continuing support at its current scale only with funding from outside city operations.

Denver

An aerial view of a road corridor under construction, labeled for on-street parking outside station areas. The presentation includes it in a Colfax BRT success story.

Published at October 28, 2026 at 6:16 PM

Denver’s Economic Development and Opportunity Office expects the remaining money in its Business Impact Opportunity Fund to be spent by the end of 2026, while a possible 2027 allocation of up to $2 million remains subject to budget approval, officials told City Council at a Sept. 25 budget hearing.

The fund, known as the BIO Fund, supports businesses affected by city construction. Federal sources that helped expand the program are largely exhausted, DEDO said in its presentation prepared for the Finance and Business Committee.

At the committee’s Oct. 27 briefing, officials said the program had used about $32 million since 2019, with more than 85% from federal sources. Six grant rounds for Colfax Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) construction — three in 2025 and three in 2026 — supported 188 businesses: 100 in 2025 and 88 in 2026. Officials said the fund’s current money was expected to cover the Colfax BRT project, but no money was set aside for Federal Boulevard BRT, according to the briefing.

DEDO recommends continuing the program at its current scale only if funding is available from outside city operations. The proposed allocation would support small businesses affected by specified city-funded construction projects. The committee took no action on the fund at the Oct. 27 briefing, and no 2027 funding has been approved.

At the September hearing, DEDO said the BIO Fund had directly supported more than 4,000 businesses since 2019. The office also said it would continue working with business districts and local businesses to bring customers to affected areas.

At the Sept. 25 hearing, Councilmember Sawyer said legislation concerning the fund was still being developed, with another committee presentation planned for Nov. 10. Sawyer said there was no working draft yet, making it difficult to include BIO dollars in the budget. Sawyer described a budget amendment as “very likely” and planned to ask the mayor’s office and the Department of Finance to consider funding options.

Sawyer cited businesses along the 5280 Trail, two blocks of Acoma, Morrison Road, Santa Fe bond projects and Colfax BRT as potentially affected. Sawyer said impacts from Colfax construction were winding down, though businesses affected by phase three could still need support in 2027.