U.S. Treasury Approves 102 Mississippi Opportunity Zone Designations Across 50 Counties
The office of Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves announced on November 5 that the U.S. Department of the Treasury has approved Mississippi's nominations of 102 census tracts for designation as Opportunity Zones under the federal Opportunity Zones 2.0 program. The newly approved zones span 50 counties and are designed to attract private investment, stimulate economic growth and create new opportunities in communities across the state.
Of the 102 approved census tracts, 78 are classified as rural and 24 as non-rural. The designations will take effect on January 1, 2027, and remain in place for 10 years, as part of the federal program's first 10-year designation cycle. The original Opportunity Zone designations will remain in effect through December 31, 2028.
Established under the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, the Opportunity Zones program encourages long-term private investment in designated low-income communities by providing federal tax incentives to investors who reinvest eligible capital gains through Qualified Opportunity Funds. The program was made permanent in 2025 and established a new framework for Opportunity Zone designations every 10 years.
Governor Reeves nominated the Mississippi census tracts following a statewide selection process coordinated by the Mississippi Development Authority, which included opportunities for public input. Reeves said Mississippi is competing for investment and winning, and that the 102 Opportunity Zones create new opportunities to attract private capital, strengthen local economies and bring more jobs and investment to areas with tremendous potential for growth.
Mississippi Development Authority Executive Director PJ Waldrop said access to capital is essential to economic development, particularly in communities where traditional investment can be more difficult to attract, and that with 78 rural tracts included, more of the state's communities can be connected with investment that generates economic activity and creates jobs. (Source: Office of the Governor of Mississippi)
Source: Office of the Governor of Mississippi
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于 Jackson 的密西西比州议会大厦。图源：Wikimedia Commons（Michael Barera，CC BY-SA 4.0） / Photo: The Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson. Photo: Wikimedia Commons (Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0)
