Delaware Opportunity Zone 2.0 nominations due May 15

The Delaware Division of Small Business has been working closely with the Office of State Planning Coordination, Delaware State Housing Authority and Office of the Governor to prepare for Opportunity Zones 2.0. 

As part of this collaboration, the state has just launched a Delaware-specific map showing the 61 census tracts eligible to be nominated for the next round of the program. The map can be found at de.gov/oz.

The mapping tool shows current opportunity zones and allows users to add a layer that shows both rural and non-rural eligible census tracts. It is a result of guidance that the IRS and U.S. Treasury Department released April 6, regarding the procedure for nominating census tracts to be designated as qualified opportunity zones, effective Friday, Jan. 1, 2027. The document includes an appendix that lists those census tracts that the IRS/U.S. Treasury have determined to be eligible for nomination, and Delaware’s map is based on that appendix.

The Opportunity Zone webpage also hosts a form that allows developers, financial institutions, property owners, officials, potential investors and community leaders to nominate census tracts for Gov. Matt Meyer’s consideration. The deadline for submissions is Friday, May 15. This will allow time for the Delaware Opportunity Zone Team to fully vet each nomination.

"Technology makes opportunity more accessible for everyone, and we launched this mapping tool to make the Opportunity Zone nomination process simpler while there is still time for communities to weigh in," said Meyer. "This tool helps local leaders, property owners and community partners engage in the process and compete for the investments and jobs their communities deserve.”

“We’re excited to launch this mapping tool, as we’ve had many people ask when it would be available,” said Patricia Cannon, DSB director of special projects. “I want to thank our partners at the Office of State Planning who were able to produce this map so quickly after receiving the federal list.”

The time frame for the governor to to submit 25 census tracts to U.S. Treasury is Wednesday, July 1, to Wednesday, Sept. 30. 

Those submitting nominations are encouraged to write a strong business case and recruit other stakeholders to do the same to bolster their submission.