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    HomeOpportunity Zones

        
            
Opportunity Zones
	
	
						

			
	
	
	What Are Opportunity Zones?

Opportunity Zones are economically distressed communities where new investments, under certain conditions, may be eligible for preferential tax treatment. Localities qualify as Opportunity Zones if they have been nominated for that designation by the state, and that nomination has been certified by the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury’s delegation of authority to the Internal Revenue Service. Opportunity Zone eligibility is determined at the census tract level.





Check out the Finding Opportunities in Appalachia’s Opportunity Zones presentation!

Opportunity Zones in Appalachia

There are currently 737 Opportunity Zones across the Appalachian Region, representing 8.5 percent of the designated Opportunity Zones nationwide. More than 2.8 million Appalachian residents live in these designated areas. ARC is a member of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council.





How Does ARC Support Opportunity Zones

By connecting Opportunity Zones to ARC investments, communities can better leverage the investment incentives offered by Opportunity Zones, while also benefiting the Region’s most economically distressed areas. This is why ARC encourages potential grantees to consider how to directly impact Opportunity Zones in their proposed project designs. In some cases, like the POWER Initiative, ARC will give project proposals offering direct benefits to Opportunity Zones a scoring advantage during the review process.




	



ARC’s Investment Impact on Opportunity Zones    
    
    71%
              
              of FY 2019 ARC projects provide coverage for an Appalachian Opportunity Zone							  


85%
              
              of FY 2019 POWER Projects provide coverage for an Appalachian Opportunity Zone							  


$171,126
              
              the average amount ARC invested per Appalachian Opportunity Zone in FY 2019






	

Investments in Action        Appalachian Community Capital
							
															With seed money from ARC, Appalachian Community Capital (ACC) was founded to increase business lending opportunities and new sources of capital via community loan funds and Regional Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs).
							
															Learn More
											
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Additional Resources



Appalachian Opportunity Zones

          Data file with Census Tract Identifications



White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council



IRS Opportunity Zone Tax Incentives



HUD Opportunity Zones Toolkit for Communities



Economic Innovation Group Opportunity Zones Hub



Department of Treasury Community Development Financial Institutions Fund’s Opportunity Zones Resource Page Appalachian Regional Commission

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