-Overview
Opportunity Zones, a federal economic development tool that provides tax incentives for investments in low-income communities, are back and bigger than ever. They’re one of the most exciting and catalytic development finance tools in decades. Originally introduced as part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), Congress has just passed legislation to renew and strengthen this successful program.
An Opportunity Zone designation alone does not guarantee investment in your community. Effectively leveraging this complex tool requires a strong understanding of its strategies and deployment mechanisms. Communities and practitioners with the most comprehensive knowledge and preparedness will be best positioned to unlock the full potential of this innovative financing tool, supporting community revitalization, economic development, and housing projects.
The CDFA Intro Opportunity Zones 2.0 Finance Course will bring together program designers, fund managers, community leaders, investors, and policy experts to share strategies for attracting zone investments and maximizing Opportunity Zone 2.0. The course will also cover key legislative updates, including enhanced bonus depreciation provisions, new zone designations with an emphasis on rural areas, and other critical policy developments.
This course qualifies for the CDFA Training Institute's Development Finance Certified Professional (DFCP) Program. Start down the road to personal and professional advancement today.
Register
Course Objectives
- Learn the fundamentals of Opportunity Zones 2.0
- Understand key legislative updates and changes
- Explore how OZs can support housing and other development projects
- Gain insight into the key players shaping the Opportunity Zone landscape
- Engage directly with fund managers and investors
- Discuss best practices for structuring Opportunity Zones and Opportunity Funds
- Learn how to identify potential funders and effectively market your zones
- Explore how OZ 2.0 can contribute to community revitalization
- Build connections and identify opportunities for future investment
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Topics Covered
- Fundamentals of Opportunity Zones
- Strategies for attracting investment
- Engaging stakeholders and communities
- Rural and urban Opportunity Zone approaches
- Impact investing within Opportunity Zones
- Community, zone-level, and project case studies
- Timing and location of Opportunity Fund investments
- Fund-manager perspectives on zone investment
- State-level Opportunity Zone strategies
- Debt-financing tools that complement Opportunity Fund investments
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Who Should Attend?
- Economic development professionals
- Community development practitioners
- Real estate developers
- Investors and fund managers
- Non-profit leaders
- Elected officials
- Legal counsel
- Policymakers
- Accountants and tax professionals
- Commercial bankers
- Financial advisors
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Course Advisor
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Toby Rittner
Council of Development Finance Agencies
President & CEO
Toby Rittner is the President & CEO of Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA), a national association dedicated to the advancement of development finance concerns and interests. CDFA is comprised of the nation’s leading and most ... knowledgeable members of the development finance community representing hundreds of public, private and non-profit development finance agencies. Mr. Rittner runs the day-to-day operations of the Council including the organization’s various educational, advocacy, research, resources, and networking initiatives. He also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the CDFA Foundation.
Rittner is one of the most vocal and recognized leaders of the development finance industry nationwide and has advised local, state, and federal leaders, including Presidents Biden and Obama, on economic development finance policy. Through his leadership and guidance, CDFA was successful in preserving private activity bonds and other critical development finance tools during the 2017 tax reform deliberations and has had numerous pieces of legislation introduced in the United States Congress. In 2021, Rittner successfully led a national effort to reauthorize and fund the $10B State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) program as part of the American Rescue Plan Act. He has written and crafted dozens of strategic finance plans for development finance agencies and advised communities throughout the world on development finance approaches.
Rittner focuses on sustainable finance with an emphasis on infrastructure, clean energy, food systems, small business, and innovations in the development finance industry to drive sustainable outcomes. He has written extensively about impact ready initiatives that leverage and engage capital in ways that drive local sustainability in business and industry and the environment and economy.
Rittner is a frequent speaker at local, state, and national conferences and events focused on economic development finance. He has been featured in The Bond Buyer, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, NPR and other national media publications concerning the advancement of development finance tools. He is the author of CDFA's highly acclaimed Practitioner's Guide to Economic Development Finance and co-author of CDFA's Unlocking Capital: A Handbook for Becoming a High Performing Development Finance Agency.
Rittner is an adjunct faculty member at The Ohio State University and Carnegie Mellon University. He is also a Development Finance Certified Professional (DFCP) and has completed the prestigious Oxford University Sustainable Finance Foundation Course.
Mr. Rittner previously served on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Financial Advisory Board and is a member of the Advisory Board for the National Community Fund I. Mr. Rittner holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master's of City and Regional Planning degree from The Ohio State University. Mr. Rittner was awarded the Ohio State University College of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2016. (More)
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-Agenda
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Wed 12:00 PM - 12:15 PM |
Welcome & Overview
Opportunity Zones 2.0 builds on the foundation of the original incentive, incorporating lessons learned and updated approaches to investment, equity, and long-term impact. This session introduces the scope and structure of the course, highlighting the range of strategies, tools, and perspectives we’ll explore together.
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Wed 12:15 PM - 2:00 PM |
Opportunity Zones: The Fundamentals & What’s Changed
This session provides a comprehensive overview of the OZ program, including the origins of the incentive, tax benefits, and zone designation. We’ll also discuss how the landscape has changed since the program launched and explore how those changes are influencing current strategy and community readiness.
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Wed 2:00 PM - 3:15 PM |
Laying the Groundwork: Partnerships, Assets & Local Readiness
Strong OZ investment starts with strong community groundwork. This session explores how local leaders can engage key partners, conduct asset and opportunity mapping, and organize investment pipelines. We'll also discuss how a refreshed investment prospectus can reflect not just potential, but community priorities.
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Wed 3:15 PM - 3:30 PM |
Break
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Wed 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM |
Stacking Capital: Financing Projects in OZs
Most successful OZ projects rely on multiple sources of capital. In this session, we’ll explore how to layer OZ equity with bonds, tax credits, revolving loan funds, and other tools. We’ll also examine how capital stacking can improve financial viability and community outcomes.
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Wed 5:00 PM |
Adjourn
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Thursday, December 18, 2025
Thu 12:00 PM - 12:15 PM |
Revisiting Day 1
A brief recap of Day 1 to reflect on key themes, answer outstanding questions, and set the stage for deeper discussions on OZ fund structuring and community investment strategy.
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Thu 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM |
Opportunity Funds 2.0: Structure, Strategy & Alignment
This session explores how Opportunity Funds are evolving—moving toward greater transparency, compliance awareness, and impact-driven investment strategies. We’ll cover the mechanics of fund formation, what makes a fund appealing, and how communities can better align with fund goals.
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Thu 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM |
What Opportunity Funds Want (Now)
Understanding what attracts an Opportunity Fund is key to securing investment. This session examines how fund managers evaluate opportunities based on financial returns, mission alignment, risk, and readiness. Participants will gain practical insights into how to shape their projects to resonate with today’s evolving investor.
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Thu 2:30 PM - 2:45 PM |
Break
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Thu 2:45 PM - 4:15 PM |
Working with Federal Partners & Programs
Many federal agencies are working to align resources with OZ strategies. This session offers guidance on how to access and layer federal tools alongside OZ investments, with insights on how to position projects for support and technical assistance.
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Thu 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM |
Spotlight: Emerging Strategies & Community Approaches
We’ll wrap with examples of early OZ 2.0 strategies from the field. These may include new fund models, refreshed prospectuses, and community-led approaches. Attendees will gain insight into how others are evolving their use of the OZ incentive and what lessons are emerging.
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Thu 5:00 PM |
Adjourn
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-Location
The Intro Opportunity Zones 2.0 Course will take place on Zoom. The course will meet each day from 12:00-5:00 PM Eastern. Attendees must have access to a computer and the internet to attend the course. |
-Registration
This training course qualifies for the CDFA Training Institute's
Development Finance Certified Professional (DFCP) Program. Start down the road to personal and professional advancement today.
Scholarships are available to attend this event. Learn more about the
CDFA Scholarship Program,
and submit your application today.
Please note that the application deadline is two weeks prior to the course start date.
CDFA permits only one person to log in and participate in the course. If multiple people are accessing the course without paying to attend, we will terminate the connection and access. CDFA offers group discounts for organizations that wish to register multiple people.
CDFA Member: $500
Non-Member: $825
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CDFA Member: $625
Non-Member: $950
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Register