Qualified Opportunity Zones

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) created Qualified Opportunity Zones, a tool for promoting long-term investment in low-income communities.

The federal tax bill passed at the end of December 2017 enables the governor to designate certain census tracts as Opportunity Zones. Investments made by individuals through special funds in these zones would be allowed to defer or eliminate federal taxes on capital gains. The governor was given the opportunity to designate up to 25 percent of census tracts that either have poverty rates of at least 20 percent or median family incomes of no more than 80 percent of statewide or metropolitan area family income. There are nearly 1,200 eligible census tracts and the governor designated 300 tracts based on economic data, recommendations from local partners, and the likelihood of private-sector investment in those tracts.

Collection of Recommendations

DCED received robust feedback following the posting of the Opportunity Zones web page.

Comments and recommendations were received from a total of 132 individuals, cities, counties, legislators, and organizations. A total of 734 eligible low-income census tracts were recommended to the state for designation, which is 61% of the entire eligible pool.

Tracts were Recommended Based Primarily on the Following
Potential to Eliminate Poverty

Special consideration was given to some of the poorest areas of the state:

  • 120 tracts or 40% above 35% poverty rate
  • 198 or 66% of tracts have a median family income lower than the average of all eligible tracts
  • 202 or 67% of tracts have unemployment rate higher than 10%
Areas with Business Activity

Priorities of local economic development partners and community organizations were given special consideration as well as positive responses to the following:

  • Does the area have an anchor (airport, hospital, large employer)?
  • What is the likelihood of private sector-driven low- to moderate-income or affordable housing being developed in the tract?
  • Will future development in the tract build on previous and ongoing public investments in infrastructure?
Geographic Diversity

Consideration was given to population centers throughout Pennsylvania which have potential for investment.


Designated tracts

On June 14, 2018 , 300 tracts were designated as Opportunity Zones.

Timeline for Qualified Opportunity Zones for 2018
  • March 30 – Deadline for Public Recommendations
  • April 20 – Governor’s Submission of Tracts to U.S. Department of Treasury
  • June 14th – Federal Approval of Designations
  • October 2018 – Guidance Issued by U.S. Department of Treasury
  • January 2019 – Public Hearing on Regulations
  • April 2019 – Second round of guidance issued by U.S. Department of Treasury
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