Unpacking Opportunity Zones 2.0 for Sustainability and Equity

Opportunity Zones (OZs), introduced in the Tax and Jobs Act of 2017, have had limited success in achieving stated goals. The second Trump administration's budget act has altered the universe of development finance. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act removed critical financial tools and added others. OZs, New Markets Tax Credits, and Low-Income Housing Tax Credits have been made permanent. It is imperative for planners to understand these critical changes and learn how to guide these tools for equitable and sustainable development. This need led to the development of an Opportunity Zone Equitable and Sustainable Development Matrix of place types and planning tools. This presentation focuses on driving investment to weaker markets, such as cities with populations of 50,000 to 250,000, suburbs, and rural places.

Learn about the changes to OZs and development finance from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Presenters introduce the Opportunity Zones Equitable and Sustainable Development Matrix. Discover a framework to drive needed investment to your community through strategic engagement with various stakeholders to serve the needs of residents. Finally, find out about model legislation for federal and state policies to enhance equity and sustainability in OZs.
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