How to Win OZ 2.0 Designation in 2026

The nomination window opens from July 1 to September 30, 2026, but states that those who start mapping, modeling, and storytelling now will control the shortlist.
Action: Form a Governor’s OZ 2.0 Task Force by Q1 2026 to align planning, GIS, housing, and finance teams.

OZ 2.0 will reduce the total tract count by ~30%. Treasury and EIG are favoring zones that can absorb capital, deliver outcomes, and show readiness.
Action: Pre-score each census tract on:

• Infrastructure capacity (power, broadband, water)
• Land control & zoning certainty
• Public/private partnership pipeline
• Anchor institutions and workforce base

Investors buy projects, not census maps—the strongest submissions pair policy with place-based investment decks.
Action: Develop a State OZ Prospectus with:

• 3–5 marquee sites per region
• Local sponsor contacts and capital needs
• Visual pipeline map with GIS layers

Rural tracts now carry a 30% basis step-up—a triple incentive that draws family offices and infrastructure funds.
Action: Bundle rural tracts around broadband, EV, and data-center corridors; coordinate with USDA and EDA grants for matching capital.

Treasury wants accountability: 5-year rolling deferral tests, impact metrics, and auditable reporting.
Action: Adopt a State OZ Readiness Framework using templates from Ascension OZ Advisors—covering governance, metrics, and investor interface.

Frame OZ 2.0 as a jobs and infrastructure engine, not a tax shelter.
Action: Publish case studies showing how private capital + public planning delivered wins in your OZ 1.0 communities.

Our team helps governors, EDCs, and municipalities:

• Design nomination strategies & readiness reports
• Build State Prospectus & Rural Zone Portfolios
• Train staff on QOF/QOZB compliance & capital stack alignment

Contact Michael O’Mara
Founder, Ascension OZ Advisors & Opportunity Zone Alliance 2.0
📧 mike@ascensionoz.com 📞 617-549-5154