Opportunity Zones Resource Center
Overview
Created as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Opportunity Zones are a federal economic development tool aiming to improve the outcomes of distressed communities around the country. Opportunity Zones are low-income census tracts that offer tax incentives to groups who invest and hold their capital gains in Zone assets or property. By investing in Opportunity Zones, investors stand to gain a temporary deferral on their capital gains taxes if they hold their investments for at least 5 years, and a permanent exclusion from a tax on capital gains from the Opportunity Zones investments if the investments are held for 10 years.
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-Understanding Opportunity Zones
Opportunity Zones, created as a result of the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, are low-income census tracts eligible to use tax incentives to encourage long-term investments in Zone assets and property. Opportunity Zones are designated as such by the governor or chief executive of a given state, district, or territory. All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories are eligible to designate Opportunity Zones.
Read more about Opportunity Zones
Five Strategies for Engaging Opportunity Zone Investors
This quick guide, authored by CDFA and Skeo, outlines five key strategies for engaging Opportunity Zones investors including resources and tips that can help communities attract investment to their revitalization efforts.
Leveraging Development Finance Tools to Attract Opportunity Zone Investment
This guide, authored by CDFA and Skeo, provides an overview of various development finance tools and suggestions for how communities could use these tools to finance projects in Opportunity Zones. Each section includes additional resources to learn more, along with case studies to illustrate how development finance tools have been used to support revitalization goals in several Opportunity Zones.
How to Create an Investor Ready Project - The Opportunity Exchange
The first piece in the Opportunity Exchange’s Community Development Playbook deals with a big roadblock projects face - getting funded. When it comes to getting investors interested, the secret to success is a great project pitch. This piece breaks down the six essential elements of every great project profile, the best practices for each, and offers real examples from public projects on The Opportunity Exchange.
Tax Incentives for Opportunity Zones - Congressional Research Service
This Congressional Research Service report discusses (1) which census tracts have been designated as an OZ, (2) what types of entities are eligible as QOFs, (3) the tax benefits of investments in QOFs, (4) a summary of IRS/Treasury regulations implementing OZs, (5) what economic effects can be expected from OZ tax incentives, and (6) what policy issues Congress has raised with respect to OZs.
The Impact of Opportunity Zones: An Initial AssessmentMembers only 
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This report from the White House' Council of Economic Advisers compares the advantages of OZs with those of other Federal antipoverty programs and documents the characteristics of the nearly 8,800 low-income communities designated as OZs. It also quantifies the effect of OZs investment and finds that a large increase is already benefiting OZ residents while potentially having only a small effect on the Federal budget.
-Resources
View all Opportunity Zones Resources
-Official Treasury Designations
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has approved Opportunity Zones in every state and territory. Click on any of the links below to see where Opportunity Zones are located. A
comprehensive list of all designated Opportunity Zones is available from the CDFI Fund.
-Rules and Regulations
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has completed the process of codifying the regulatory framework for the Opportunity Zones incentive. This section is dedicated to analysis of the final Opportunity Zones regulations.
View the Final Regulations
Tax Incentives for Opportunity Zones - Congressional Research Service
This Congressional Research Service report discusses (1) which census tracts have been designated as an OZ, (2) what types of entities are eligible as QOFs, (3) the tax benefits of investments in QOFs, (4) a summary of IRS/Treasury regulations implementing OZs, (5) what economic effects can be expected from OZ tax incentives, and (6) what policy issues Congress has raised with respect to OZs.
Opportunity Zone Rule Changes Due to COVID-19 - Frost Brown Todd
In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the IRS recently issued IRS Notice 2020-39, which provides certain relief related to the calculation of time-sensitive deadlines under the federal Opportunity Zone program outlined in Internal Revenue Code Section 1400Z-2 and the underlying Treasury Regulations. This post from Frost Brown Todd analyzes these regulatory changes.
Qualified Opportunity Zones: What Investors Should Know - Wells Fargo
This analysis from Wells Fargo discusses what investors need to know about Qualified Opportunity Zones. Wells Fargo Bank will also be publishing companion article(s) which will provide a more in-depth analysis of the operation of Qualified Opportunity Zone funds and how taxpayers may navigate this new topic.
The Substance and Significance of the Final Regulations on Opportunity Zones - EIG
EIG hosted a webinar with guest experts to discuss the final regulations on Opportunity Zones, released by Treasury and the IRS on December 19, 2019. Lisa Zarlenga of Steptoe & Johnson LLP and Michael Novogradac of Novogradac & Company LLP provided a detailed overview of key provisions, discussed how the newly-minted rules may influence investment activity, and highlighted topics that were not addressed as part of the final regulatory framework.
-Opportunity Funds Resources
Opportunity Zones: State of the Marketplace 2021
This 2021 EIG report explores whether the Opportunity Zones policy and regulations are working as intended, what its early effects have been, and details the improvements needed to ensure the policy fulfills its promise. While the early findings from the field provide cause for optimism, there is room for policy improvements and continued opportunities to educate investors, local leaders, and other stakeholders.
How States Can Direct Economic Development to Places and People in NeedMembers only Login
To address local disparities and help struggling areas thrive, governments at all levels have spent billions of dollars on a range of geographically targeted, or "place-based," economic development programs — mostly in the form of financial incentives — designed to boost job creation and business investment, incentivize real estate development, or increase property values in specific places. The Pew Charitable Trusts performed a literature review of more than 100 studies to better understand the reasons for lack of effectiveness of place-based programs.
Five Strategies for Engaging Opportunity Zone Investors
This quick guide, authored by CDFA and Skeo, outlines five key strategies for engaging Opportunity Zones investors including resources and tips that can help communities attract investment to their revitalization efforts.
Leveraging Development Finance Tools to Attract Opportunity Zone Investment
This guide, authored by CDFA and Skeo, provides an overview of various development finance tools and suggestions for how communities could use these tools to finance projects in Opportunity Zones. Each section includes additional resources to learn more, along with case studies to illustrate how development finance tools have been used to support revitalization goals in several Opportunity Zones.
The Impact of Opportunity Zones: An Initial AssessmentMembers only Login
This report from the White House' Council of Economic Advisers compares the advantages of OZs with those of other Federal antipoverty programs and documents the characteristics of the nearly 8,800 low-income communities designated as OZs. It also quantifies the effect of OZs investment and finds that a large increase is already benefiting OZ residents while potentially having only a small effect on the Federal budget.
View more Oppportunity Funds Resources
-Opportunity Zones Resources
Opportunity Zones: State of the Marketplace 2021
This 2021 EIG report explores whether the Opportunity Zones policy and regulations are working as intended, what its early effects have been, and details the improvements needed to ensure the policy fulfills its promise. While the early findings from the field provide cause for optimism, there is room for policy improvements and continued opportunities to educate investors, local leaders, and other stakeholders.
How States Can Direct Economic Development to Places and People in NeedMembers only Login
To address local disparities and help struggling areas thrive, governments at all levels have spent billions of dollars on a range of geographically targeted, or "place-based," economic development programs — mostly in the form of financial incentives — designed to boost job creation and business investment, incentivize real estate development, or increase property values in specific places. The Pew Charitable Trusts performed a literature review of more than 100 studies to better understand the reasons for lack of effectiveness of place-based programs.
MLK Gateway I: Opportunity Zone Investment Profile
This investment profile from the Economic Innovation Group showcases the MLK Gateway in Washington, DC. Located in the Anacostia neighborhood, MLK Gateway will bring new life to a historic Main Street corridor through a center of commerce, culture, and technology; foster community prosperity; and provide a vibrant mix of neighborhood-serving retail. Financing on the project includes OZ equity, NMTC equity, grants, credit enhancement, pre-development loans, and construction loans.
Agile Space Industries: Opportunity Zone Investment Profile
This investment profile from the Economic Innovation Group showcases Agile Space Industries located in Durango, CO. Agile designs, manufactures, and tests integrated aerospace propulsion systems, and has the only independent propulsion test facility in the United States. Opportunity Zones equity of approximately $950,000 has been invested in the company to date.
698 Prospect Phase I: Opportunity Zone Investment Profile
This investment profile from the Economic Innovation Group showcases 698 Prospect, a multi-phase development in North Carolina that includes student housing, commercial, and retail space. Impact investor Woodforest CEI-Boulos Opportunity Fund was joined by community lender Self-Help Credit Union to capitalize Phase I of 698 Prospect.
View more Oppportunity Zones Resources
-Case Studies
MLK Gateway I: Opportunity Zone Investment Profile
This investment profile from the Economic Innovation Group showcases the MLK Gateway in Washington, DC. Located in the Anacostia neighborhood, MLK Gateway will bring new life to a historic Main Street corridor through a center of commerce, culture, and technology; foster community prosperity; and provide a vibrant mix of neighborhood-serving retail. Financing on the project includes OZ equity, NMTC equity, grants, credit enhancement, pre-development loans, and construction loans.
Agile Space Industries: Opportunity Zone Investment Profile
This investment profile from the Economic Innovation Group showcases Agile Space Industries located in Durango, CO. Agile designs, manufactures, and tests integrated aerospace propulsion systems, and has the only independent propulsion test facility in the United States. Opportunity Zones equity of approximately $950,000 has been invested in the company to date.
698 Prospect Phase I: Opportunity Zone Investment Profile
This investment profile from the Economic Innovation Group showcases 698 Prospect, a multi-phase development in North Carolina that includes student housing, commercial, and retail space. Impact investor Woodforest CEI-Boulos Opportunity Fund was joined by community lender Self-Help Credit Union to capitalize Phase I of 698 Prospect.
Five Strategies for Engaging Opportunity Zone Investors
This quick guide, authored by CDFA and Skeo, outlines five key strategies for engaging Opportunity Zones investors including resources and tips that can help communities attract investment to their revitalization efforts.
Leveraging Development Finance Tools to Attract Opportunity Zone Investment
This guide, authored by CDFA and Skeo, provides an overview of various development finance tools and suggestions for how communities could use these tools to finance projects in Opportunity Zones. Each section includes additional resources to learn more, along with case studies to illustrate how development finance tools have been used to support revitalization goals in several Opportunity Zones.
View more Case Studies
-Mapping Tools
-Headlines
-Publications
Five Strategies for Engaging Opportunity Zone Investors
This quick guide, authored by CDFA and Skeo, outlines five key strategies for engaging Opportunity Zones investors including resources and tips that can help communities attract investment to their revitalization efforts.
Leveraging Development Finance Tools to Attract Opportunity Zone Investment
This guide, authored by CDFA and Skeo, provides an overview of various development finance tools and suggestions for how communities could use these tools to finance projects in Opportunity Zones. Each section includes additional resources to learn more, along with case studies to illustrate how development finance tools have been used to support revitalization goals in several Opportunity Zones.
View more Publications -Training Courses
Fundamentals of Economic Development Finance WebCourse
Daily: 12:00 - 5:00 PM Eastern
The Fundamentals WebCourse is the foundation for all of CDFA’s educational offerings. This course helps attendees understand the variety of development finance tools available, from bonds, tax credits and TIF, to federal financing programs, RLFs, and access to capital lending resources.
Register
Intro Opportunity Zones Finance WebCourse
April 28-29, 2021
12:00 - 5:00 PM Eastern
The Intro Opportunity Zones Finance WebCourse will bring together program designers, fund managers, communities, investors, and policy experts to educate and review the most up-to-date thinking and strategies on how to maximize Opportunity Zone designations and how best to attract zone investments. This interactive webcourse will help communities bring all economic development stakeholders to the table, and have a firm understanding of how the development finance toolbox can both encourage and supplement Opportunity Fund investments.
Register
View All Courses
-Upcoming Events
Intro Opportunity Zones Finance WebCourse
April 28-29, 2021
12:00 - 5:00 PM Eastern
The Intro Opportunity Zones Finance WebCourse will bring together program designers, fund managers, communities, investors, and policy experts to educate and review the most up-to-date thinking and strategies on how to maximize Opportunity Zone designations and how best to attract zone investments. This interactive webcourse will help communities bring all economic development stakeholders to the table, and have a firm understanding of how the development finance toolbox can both encourage and supplement Opportunity Fund investments.
Register
View more Upcoming Events
-Webcasts
COVID-19 Weekly Briefing - Strategies for Catalyzing Investment in Communities
During the April 10, 2020 Weekly COVID-19 Development Finance Briefing, Bruce Katz from Drexel University, Rachel Reilly from the Economic Innovation Group, and Katie Kramer from CDFA examined relief efforts run by local governments, philanthropic organizations, chambers, and other local entities to support main street.
The Substance and Significance of the Final Regulations on Opportunity Zones - EIG
EIG hosted a webinar with guest experts to discuss the final regulations on Opportunity Zones, released by Treasury and the IRS on December 19, 2019. Lisa Zarlenga of Steptoe & Johnson LLP and Michael Novogradac of Novogradac & Company LLP provided a detailed overview of key provisions, discussed how the newly-minted rules may influence investment activity, and highlighted topics that were not addressed as part of the final regulatory framework.
CDFA Texas Webinar: The Latest on Opportunity Zones
During this webinar, attendees will delve into the basics of Opportunity Zones and Opportunity Funds, how to identify qualified projects and businesses, and the ways to build a local investment strategy.
View More Webcasts