With a ceremonial cutting of red tape at last week’s State of the County address, Douglas County economic development officials underscored a goal of offering the fastest business permitting timelines not only in Colorado but throughout the nation.

Douglas County Economic Development Corporation CEO Ellie Reynolds joined county commissioners Thursday to cut the red tape, symbolizing a new effort to streamline business approvals and attract new businesses.

To do so, the Douglas County EDC is creating a “Red Tape Reduction Commission.” The commission is designed to simplify and accelerate the approval process for businesses and development.

“Our goal for business permitting in Douglas County, for 2026, really is to be not only the most competitive place to do business in Colorado, but the leader in the nation,” Reynolds told The Denver Gazette.

Reynolds said business permitting timelines vary depending on the type of commercial development.

Ready to launch in the new year, the Red Tape Reduction Commission will assemble industry experts and leaders to “figure out what slows the process down” on business permitting, according to Reynolds.

“We’re going to have private partners who are really the ones doing a lot of the meat and potatoes work with the county to know where their challenges are now and how we can expedite them and streamline them,” Reynolds said.

The Douglas County EDC has long advocated for more businesses to relocate to the county. The EDC already provides financial incentives, like property tax rebates, to businesses that relocate to the county south of Denver.

Last Thursday, county commissioners hosted the annual State of the County address. During the annual report, all three commissioners signed a resolution “affirming a commitment to business needs, cutting red tape and industry speed to market.”

Commissioners previously approved the resolution during the Dec. 9 business meeting.

“The county will identify ways to expedite commercial, industrial, and manufacturer sector development to market,” the resolution reads.

The measure also said the county seeks to identify “shovel ready” sites that can take on rapid development.

Reynolds said site selectors across the county have said competitive permitting times are within four weeks. That, Reynolds noted, was what prompted the EDC to create the Red Tape Reduction Commission.

“There’s a lot of different land use that goes into starting a business,” Reynolds said. “Businesses don’t have time to have delays. Right speed to market is one of the biggest incentives that you can offer.”