--- title: Steamboat-based startup Colter Backcountry approved for state program supporting rural job growth description: Colter Backcountry, a Steamboat Springs startup, joins Colorado’s Rural Jump-Start Zone Program to support job growth while creating ultralight fishing gear. image: https://rcedp.org/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-03-31%209.27.01%20PM.png --- Theme + Migration = $1489 (Pay for the Theme Only). 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[Consumer Expenditures](https://rcedp.org/data/consumer-expenditures) - [Wages](https://rcedp.org/wages) - [Businesses](https://rcedp.org/businesses) - [Talent & Education](https://rcedp.org/data/talent-pool) - [Economic Reports](https://rcedp.org/economic-reports) - [News](https://rcedp.org/news) - [About Us](https://rcedp.org/partnership) - [About Us](https://rcedp.org/partnership) - [RCEDP Team](https://rcedp.org/team) - [Mentor Network](https://rcedp.org/mentor-network) - [Economic Development Council](https://rcedp.org/edc) - [Board of Directors](https://rcedp.org/board-of-directors) - [Donate](https://www.coloradogives.org/organization/Routt-County-Economic-Development-Partnership) # Steamboat-based startup Colter Backcountry approved for state program supporting rural job growth By [Steamboat Pilot & Today](https://rcedp.org/news/author/steamboat-pilot-today) March 31, 2026 at 9:27 PM 1 Minute Read #### Company designs ultralight fishing gear for backcountry anglers Steamboat Springs-based startup Colter Backcountry has been approved to join Colorado’s Rural Jump-Start Zone Program, a state initiative providing tax breaks and incentives for new or relocating businesses that create jobs in rural communities, according to a statement released on Tuesday. Founded by brothers Patrick and Daniel Bauman, Colter Backcountry designs ultralight fishing gear for backcountry anglers — a concept that grew out of their experience hiking the 3,100-mile Continental Divide Trail. After struggling to find lightweight, durable fishing gear, the pair set out to fill that niche themselves. “Steamboat made sense given the existing concentration of gear companies and the strength of the local entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Colter Backcountry Founder and CEO Patrick Bauman in the statement. “We’re grateful for the support we’ve received from fellow locals,  gear brands, RCEDP and its partners, and many others in the community.”   [Read The Full Article](https://www.steamboatpilot.com/news/steamboat-based-startup-colter-backcountry-approved-for-state-program-supporting-rural-job-growth/) ## Recommended For You [![](https://rcedp.org/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(10)-1.png)](https://rcedp.org/news/supporting-small-businesses-across-colorado-polis-administration-awards-40-digital-marketing-grants) 1 Min Read ### [BAR-U-EAT and Wise Aspirations Among State's Digital Marketing Grant Awardees](https://rcedp.org/news/supporting-small-businesses-across-colorado-polis-administration-awards-40-digital-marketing-grants) [![Picture of State of Colorado](https://rcedp.org/hubfs/State%20Logo%20-%20social.jpg) State of Colorado August 3, 2023 at 4:40 PM](https://rcedp.org/news/author/state-of-colorado) [![](https://rcedp.org/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/Colorado%20advanced%20industries%20and%20manufacturing.jpeg)](https://rcedp.org/news/colorado-awards-grants) 1 Min Read ### [Colorado Awards Grants to Boost Semiconductor Industry Statewide](https://rcedp.org/news/colorado-awards-grants) [![Picture of State of Colorado](https://rcedp.org/hubfs/State%20Logo%20-%20social.jpg) State of Colorado March 5, 2025 at 10:30 AM](https://rcedp.org/news/author/state-of-colorado) [![](https://rcedp.org/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(5)-1.png)](https://rcedp.org/news/yvec_pr_hca) 1 Min Read ### [High Country Accelerator Launches for Yampa Valley Startups](https://rcedp.org/news/yvec_pr_hca) [![Picture of RCEDP](https://rcedp.org/hubfs/RCEDP%20Logo%20-%20Social-2.png) RCEDP August 6, 2024 at 10:53 AM](https://rcedp.org/news/author/rcedp) #### Stay Connected Get the latest local business resources and stay informed about long-term economic sustainability initiatives. --- ![logo-white](https://rcedp.org/hubfs/logo-white.png) Routt County, Colorado +1 (970) 717-0721 [info@rcedp.org](mailto:info@rcedp.org) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/RCEDP) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/routt-county-economic-development-partnership/) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/rc_edp/) [Follow us on Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/user/31yb7rxgbioad423hr67hisepumu?si=1c120763ec024429) - [Events](https://lu.ma/rcedp) - [Entrepreneurship](https://rcedp.org/entrepreneurship-center) - [Business Support](https://rcedp.org/business-retention-expansion) - [Key Industries](https://rcedp.org/key-industries) - [Yampa Valley](https://rcedp.org/overview) - [Data](https://rcedp.org/data/communities) - [News](https://rcedp.org/news) - [About Us](https://rcedp.org/partnership) - [Donate](https://www.coloradogives.org/organization/Routt-County-Economic-Development-Partnership) Copyright © 2024 Routt County Economic Development Partnership [Privacy Policy](https://rcedp.org/privacypolicy) | [Terms and Conditions](https://rcedp.org/termsandconditions) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Steamboat Pilot & Today", "url" : "https://rcedp.org/news/author/steamboat-pilot-today" }, "dateModified" : "2026-04-01T03:27:47.449Z", "datePublished" : "2026-04-01T03:27:47.000Z", "headline" : "Steamboat-based startup Colter Backcountry approved for state program supporting rural job growth", "image" : [ "https://rcedp.org/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-03-31%209.27.01%20PM.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://rcedp.org/news/steamboat-based-startup-colter-backcountry-approved-for-state-program-supporting-rural-job-growth", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://rcedp.org/hubfs/RCEDP-logo-color.png" }, "name" : "Routt County Economic Development Partnership" } } ```