Created in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, Opportunity Zones is a new federal program that provides tax incentives for investments in new businesses and commercial projects in low-income communities. On April 2018, Mayor Bowser nominated 25 census tracts to be Opportunity Zones. The U.S. Department of Treasury certified these tracts on May 18, 2018.

The Opportunity Zone program is a nationwide initiative administered by the U.S. Treasury created under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The program provides federal tax incentives for investment in distressed communities over the next 10 years. Areas designated as Opportunity Zones will be able to reap the benefits of capital gains to help redevelop undeserved communities. The state was entitled to nominate 149 low-income census tracts to be Opportunity Zones. Once the U.S. Treasury has approved the state’s Opportunity Zone nominations, the designation will be effective for 10 years. The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development will administer the program with support from the Maryland Department of Commerce. This is a MD iMAP hosted service. Find more information at https://imap.maryland.gov. Feature Service Link: https://mdgeodata.md.gov/imap/rest/services/BusinessEconomy/MD_IncentiveZones/FeatureServer/14

The Opportunity Zone program is a nationwide initiative administered by the U.S. Treasury created under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The program provides federal tax incentives for investment in distressed communities over the next 10 years. Areas designated as Opportunity Zones will be able to reap the benefits of capital gains to help redevelop undeserved communities. The state was entitled to nominate 149 low-income census tracts to be Opportunity Zones. Once the U.S. Treasury has approved the state’s Opportunity Zone nominations, the designation will be effective for 10 years. The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development will administer the program with support from the Maryland Department of Commerce. This is a MD iMAP hosted service. Find more information at https://imap.maryland.gov. Feature Service Link: https://mdgeodata.md.gov/imap/rest/services/BusinessEconomy/MD_IncentiveZones/FeatureServer/14

This service provides spatial data for all U.S. Decennial Census tracts designated as Qualified Opportunity Zones (QOZs) for purposes of §§ 1400Z–1 and 1400Z–2 of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code). Revenue Procedure 2018–16, 2018–9 I.R.B. 383, provided guidance to State CEOs on the eligibility criteria and procedure for making these nominations. Section 1400Z–1(b)(1)(B) of the Code provides that after the Secretary receives notice of the nominations, the Secretary may certify the nominations and designate the nominated tracts as Zones. Section 1400Z–2 of the Code allows the temporary deferral of inclusion in gross income for certain realized gains to the extent that corresponding amounts are timely invested in a qualified opportunity fund. Investments in a qualified opportunity fund may also be eligible for additional tax benefits.

The Opportunity Zones (OZ) program provides tax incentives for equity investments in businesses and commercial projects in designated Census Tracts. The District of Columbia's Opportunity Zone Marketplace is a platform where project sponsors, fund managers, investors, community members, and professional service providers can connect. The Marketplace includes listings of investment opportunities and OZ Community Corps service providers. This platform is managed by the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED). DMPED assists the Mayor in the coordination, planning, supervision, and execution of economic development efforts in DC with the goal of creating and preserving affordable housing, increasing tax revenue, and creating jobs.

Investors are able to defer paying taxes on capital gains that are invested in Qualified Opportunity Funds that in turn are invested in distressed communities designated as Opportunity Zones by the governor of each state. Census tracts 86, 87, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 110.01, 111.01 and 118 have been designated by the Washington State Department of Commerce as Opportunity Zones. This layer dissolves the aforementioned Census Tracts.

Polygon geometry with attributes displaying Census tracts designated as Louisiana Opportunity Zones in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana.

Introduced in 1993, the Empowerment Zone Initiative, along with Enterprise Community Initiative and Renewal Community Initiative, sought to reduce unemployment and generate economic growth through the designation of Federal tax incentives and award of grants to distressed communities. Local, Tribal and State government interested in participating in this program were required to present comprehensive plans that included the principles of: Strategic Visions for change, Community-Based Partnerships, Economic Opportunities and Sustainable Community Development. Communities selected to participate in this program embraced these principles and lef projects that promoted economic development in their distressed communities.

Introduced in 1993, the Empowerment Zone Initiative, along with Enterprise Community Initiative and Renewal Community Initiative, sought to reduce unemployment and generate economic growth through the designation of Federal tax incentives and award of grants to distressed communities. Local, Tribal and State government interested in participating in this program were required to present comprehensive plans that included the principles of: Strategic Visions for change, Community-Based Partnerships, Economic Opportunities and Sustainable Community Development. Communities selected to participate in this program embraced these principles and lef projects that promoted economic development in their distressed communities.

The Communities of Opportunity designated on the Maryland QAP Comprehensive Opportunity Maps are based on a “Composite Opportunity Index” developed by DHCD. The Composite Opportunity Index uses publicly - available data and is based on three major factors: community health, economic opportunity, and educational opportunity. To be designated a Community of Opportunity, and mapped as such to the Maryland QAP Comprehensive Opportunity Maps, the community must have a Composite Opportunity Index that it is above the statewide average. See Section 3.1 of the Program Guide for more details. https://dhcd.maryland.gov/HousingDevelopment/Documents/rhf/2020Guide.pdf