Governor Polis and the Business Funding and Incentives (BF&I) division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) announced that Colter Backcountry LLC, a flyfishing apparel and gear company, has joined the Rural Jump-Start initiative. Colter Backcountry will move its headquarters to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, creating new jobs and strengthening Colorado’s thriving outdoor recreation industry.
“Colorado is the best place to live, work and grow a business. Rural Jump-Start helps innovative businesses across every industry get started, and I am excited to welcome Colter Backcountry to Steamboat Springs. Colter Backcountry is an innovative fly fishing gear company, which will create good-paying jobs in the region, support the local economy, and strengthen Colorado’s thriving outdoor recreation industry,” said Governor Jared Polis.
Colter Backcountry manufactures and sells minimalist gear designed for backcountry fly fishing. Brothers Patrick and Daniel Bauman were inspired to create ultralight backcountry gear after thru-hiking the 3,100 mile Continental Divide Trail. Colter Backcountry focuses on making minimalist versions of essential fly fishing gear using light and advanced materials. The company will manage product assembly, inventory storage, and order fulfillment in Steamboat Springs.
“At Colter Backcountry, we’re on a mission to make great gear for backcountry fishing. We’re incredibly excited to join the Rural Jump-Start Program and look forward to expanding our business in Steamboat Springs. This program will help us grow our product line, deepen our roots in the community, and continue designing gear built for the mountains that surround us,” said Patrick Bauman, Colter Backcountry Owner.
The Rural Jump-Start program encourages economic development and job creation in economically distressed, rural counties of Colorado. This funding supports regional economic and workforce development activities that seek to expand local business, create new good-paying jobs, and strengthen and diversify local economies. The company will receive $15,000 in grant funding to support the launch of its operations, as well as four years of tax benefits through the Rural Jump-Start program. Eligible employees will also receive a state personal income tax credit while the company is in the program.
“We are thrilled to see Colter Backcountry choose Steamboat Springs for its headquarters. Colter Backcountry joins Colorado’s thriving outdoor recreation industry, which supports over 404,000 jobs in the state, or 12% of Colorado’s workforce. The Rural Jump-Start program continues to support local communities and create new jobs across the state,” said Eve Lieberman, OEDIT Executive Director.
Sponsoring entities like Routt County Economic Development Partnership (RCEDP) help identify business candidates in their communities and work with each business to help ensure its success in the program and in the community.
“Supporting local businesses and startups like Colter Backcountry is essential to economic diversification and long-term economic resilience,” said John Bristol, Executive Director of RCEDP.
To learn more about the Rural Jump-Start program, please contact Quina Weber-Shirk at quina.webershirk@state.co.us.