The Opportunity Zones Program, enacted in 2017 as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, is designed to encourage long-term investment in economically distressed rural and urban neighborhoods across the country. Opportunity Zones are census tracts that have been nominated by governors and certified by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to receive Opportunity Funds. These funds are comprised of private capital from investors who in turn receive capital gains tax advantages from the federal government.
Some have expressed criticism of the new program, suggesting that it might encourage displacement of low-income residents and reward those already investing in gentrifying areas. To better assess the potential impact of this program, the tool below was created so that our readers can locate and have data on the neighborhoods where this program is being implemented in the Atlanta Metro region.
Data sources:
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (5-year estimates), 2013-17
Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, Home Loan Origination, 2017
Federal Housing Finance Agency, Housing Price Index, 2017