More than 200 areas in Virginia officially designated ‘opportunity zones’

The  U.S. Department of Treasury has officially designated 212 Virginia Qualified Opportunity Zones.

Gov. Ralph Northam submitted 212 nominations in April, which represented the maximum number of zones the governor was able to nominate under the new federal tax tool that targets low-income census tracts.

“I am pleased that all of the 212 nominated Opportunity Zones have been accepted,” Northam said in a statement. “We focused on local, regional, and state priorities, as well as Virginia’s diverse geography and economic opportunities, to strategically select a balance of zones that align with other state and local economic development and revitalization efforts. My administration is committed to maximizing this important federal tool to strengthen our local and state economic development efforts and ensure Virginia is at the forefront of attracting new Opportunity fund investments.”

The Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 included provisions for a new revitalization tool, the Opportunity Zone and Opportunity Fund. The zones and funds will allow investors to receive tax benefits on currently unrealized capital gains that are invested through Opportunity Funds in eligible census tracts designated as Qualified Opportunity Zones. The rules associated with qualification of Opportunity Investment Funds and Qualified Opportunity Investments must be written at the federal level and are expected to be formalized later this calendar year.

Click here for a link to the Virginia Opportunity Zone website, and click here for a map of Virginia’s Qualified Opportunity Zones.