HUD Convenes Faith, Business and Government Leaders in Grand Rapids to Promote Opportunity Zone Collaboration
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) said on October 16 that its Center for Faith, together with the HUD Great Lakes Regional team, hosted a conference in Grand Rapids bringing together leaders from the faith community, the business sector, and federal, state and local government to encourage participation in economic and community development within Opportunity Zones (OZs).
Panels at the conference, titled "Opportunity Zones: Economic Development and Community Revitalization by the Power of Faith," covered business opportunities in OZs, project funding, attainable housing options, federal government resources, and the involvement of faith organizations in their communities. HUD Great Lakes Regional Administrator Duey Stroebel said Opportunity Zones are among the most effective tools for bringing private investment into the communities that need it most, and that investors, developers and faith leaders working around a shared vision can deliver real gains for families and neighborhoods across Michigan. HUD Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development Ronnie Kurtz said OZs are not a top-down government effort or handouts, but long-term investments created through public-private partnerships.
According to HUD, the program — established in 2017 by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act — has drawn more than $100 billion in private investment, lifted more than one million Americans out of poverty, spurred the creation of more than half a million jobs, and led to the construction of more than 400,000 housing units in distressed communities. Under the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, Opportunity Zones have been made permanent, with a rolling designation cycle, expanded incentives for underserved rural communities and a 10-year investment timeline.
Daniel Landy, executive vice president of UMH Properties, told the conference his company wants to build affordable housing communities in Opportunity Zones and values faith-based organizations' ability to build community. Chris Palusky, CEO of Mel Trotter Ministries, also spoke at the event. HUD said this was the fifth conference in a national series hosted by its Center for Faith.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: HUD五大湖地区行政官斯特罗贝尔在大会上发言，美国住房与城市发展部官方照片（美国联邦政府作品，公共领域），来源：HUD新闻稿第26-086号随稿图 hud-no-26-086a（https://www.hud.gov/news/hud-no-26-086 ）
