Supporting Investment and Growth

The State of North Carolina has begun a new process to identify and submit to the United States’ Treasury a list of places that will eventually be certified as Opportunity Zones (OZ) in North Carolina. Soon, we will be asking for public input and comment on candidate locations that qualify for consideration.

In 2018, our Department coordinated a process that led to certification of the Opportunity Zones currently in use.  We will play a similar role this year and will post more on this page as information becomes available.

Beginning on July 1, 2026, state governors will have 90 days to nominate 25% of their state’s eligible low-income census tracts for inclusion in the next round of Opportunity Zones, which will take effect on January 1, 2027 and stay in effect for ten years.

Governor Stein designated the North Carolina Department of Commerce (Commerce) to lead the state’s nomination process and advise him on the tracts to submit to the U.S. Treasury for approval and certification.

How the Selection Process Will Work

The U.S. Census Bureau is expected to release its 5-year 202-24 American Community Survey (ACS) data on January 29, 2026. This data determines which census tracts qualify for Opportunity Zone designation.

Commerce will analyze the eligible census tracts to understand their potential for economic development. Public input will play a major role in shaping North Carolina’s final nominations. We encourage participation from local governments, economic developers, and leaders with knowledge or interest in Opportunity Zones.

Public Feedback

A public feedback form will be available on our website in March and will remain open for 30 days. To ensure your input is received and the process is open, fair, and transparent, all public input and recommendations should only be made through this official feedback form.

Sign up with the form below and we'll send you an email notification when the public feedback form opens.

Background

The Opportunity Zone (OZ) Program is a federal tax incentive created under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to encourage long-term private investment in economically distressed census tracts. These investments can help strengthen local economies through job creation, business growth, and redevelopment.

Investors may receive federal tax benefits for investing in designated Opportunity Zones, including:

• Deferring capital gains used for an OZ investment
• Reducing capital gains taxes if the investment is held for at least five years
• Eliminating capital gains taxes on profits from the OZ investment if it is held long term

The program was originally set to stop accepting new investments after December 31, 2026, but it was reauthorized in 2025.

Contact

For questions about the Opportunity Zone nomination process, please contact:
Emily Roach Pandich
Director of Policy and Strategic Planning
Emily.roach@commerce.nc.gov