Extended Public Comment Period for North Carolina’s Opportunity Zone Nominations
The North Carolina Department of Commerce has announced an extension for the public to weigh in on the state’s Opportunity Zone nominations, allowing more time for local governments, economic development bodies, and the community to contribute their insights on potential zones.
The revised deadline for nominations is now set for 11:59 pm on Sunday, June 21, 2026. This extension provides an additional two weeks for stakeholders to engage with the nomination process.
“North Carolina’s Opportunity Zone nomination process is intentionally locally driven because local elected officials and community leaders have the strongest understanding of where investment can create lasting impact,” stated N.C. Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “We are extending the comment deadline to ensure more local communities help identify the census tracts with the greatest potential to support housing, attract investment, create jobs, and strengthen long-term economic opportunity.”
Up to 202 of the 807 eligible low-income census tracts in North Carolina may be nominated for federal Opportunity Zone status. These zones can benefit from federal tax incentives aimed at fostering sustained private investment. Public contributions are essential to align these nominations with the state and local goals focused on business growth, job creation, housing development, and community resilience.
This decision aligns with Governor Josh Stein’s Executive Order No. 36: Increasing Housing Opportunities for All North Carolinians, which instructs the Commerce Department to prioritize housing creation in the selection of eligible census tracts for Opportunity Zone designation. This directive is consistent with the guiding principles outlined in the public feedback form.
Additional resources, including a map of the 807 eligible tracts and the public feedback form, are available on the updated web page commerce.nc.gov/oz. The page provides comprehensive details on the nomination process.
The U.S. Treasury is anticipated to certify the new Opportunity Zones later this year, with their designations becoming effective as of January 1, 2027.
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