The OZ 2.0 State Prospectus Framework

A strategic, investor-oriented blueprint for states preparing their 2026 redesignation package.

1. Start With the State’s Investment Narrative (The “Why Now” Story)

Investors move toward momentum and clarity. A prospectus must open with:
✔ A compelling statewide vision:

  • The state’s economic growth agenda
  • Public–private partnership strategy
  • Commitment to rural and distressed communities
  • Alignment with OZ 2.0’s updated rules and metrics

✔ The investment thesis:

  • “Why capital wants to be here in the next 10 years”
  • Key sectors positioned for accelerated growth
  • Tax, regulatory, and infrastructure advantages

✔ OZ 2.0 opportunity framing:

  • Permanent program
  • Annual reporting transparency (credibility driver)
  • Rural incentives
  • High compliance expectations (states that prepare rise to the top)

This section positions the state as a prepared partner, not just a map curator.

2. Create a Data-Rich, Investor-Friendly OZ Tract Overview

Every tract must be presented like a product on the shelf.
For each census tract, include:

  • Tract profile: population, income, labor force, educational attainment
  • Economic indicators: business base, job growth, GDP contribution
  • Infrastructure & logistics: highways, energy, broadband, rail, ports
  • Anchor institutions: universities, hospitals, employers
  • Industry compatibility: manufacturing, data centers, logistics, housing, renewables, etc.
  • Real estate market conditions: vacancy, absorption, cap rates, rents, land availability
  • Strategic assets: industrial parks, downtown redevelopment zones, utility capacities
  • State incentives layered on top of OZ: credits, grants, loan programs

States should NOT wait for the federal redesignation map — your data needs to be ready.

3. Develop an OZ 2.0 “Pipeline Index”

Capital flows to certainty.
A state prospectus must showcase:
✔ Potential QOZB concepts (advanced manufacturing, logistics, data centers, value-add agriculture)
✔ Real estate development opportunities (mixed-use, workforce housing, industrial)
✔ Public–private partnership projects (municipal assets, adaptive reuse)
✔ Shovel-ready sites with infrastructure status and zoning
✔ Legacy OZ 1.0 projects and their economic successes
This “pipeline index” becomes a deal flow preview that investors love.

4. Create a Statewide OZ 2.0 Competitive Advantage Scorecard

This allows investors to understand why the state is a safe, strategic bet.
Scorecard Should Include:

  • Cost of doing business
  • Workforce strength
  • Infrastructure quality
  • Logistics access
  • Energy capacity and costs
  • Permitting environment
  • Innovation ecosystem
  • Housing market readiness
  • Rural accessibility

Investors need to see how your state ranks against competing states.

5. Build a Clear, Repeatable Process for Investors

States must show investors exactly how to engage.
Include:

  • Step-by-step instructions for site selection
  • QOZB formation pathway
  • Permitting and zoning guide
  • State incentive application timelines
  • Contact names (not generic emails)
  • Local EDC partners by region
  • Templates for LOIs, pre-development checklists, and incentives worksheets

Simplicity wins.
If a sponsor feels “lost,” they will redirect elsewhere.

6. Draft Model Case Studies (Real or Prototype)

Case studies are your persuasion engine.
Show:

  • OZ 1.0 wins in your state.
  • Rural impact stories
  • Manufacturing expansions
  • Housing developments that triggered job creation
  • Examples of capital stacking (OZ + state incentives + federal programs)
  • Before-and-after community transformations

Case studies make investors feel:
“This state knows how to convert capital into outcomes.”

7. Package All Materials Into a Branded State OZ 2.0 Prospectus

The final product should look like a professional investment offering, not a government brochure.
The deliverable must include:

  • Executive Summary
  • Statewide OZ Investment Narrative
  • Tract-by-Tract Profiles
  • Sector Opportunity Maps
  • Development Pipeline Index
  • State Incentive Overlay
  • Workforce & Infrastructure Scorecards
  • Case Studies
  • Investor Engagement Process
  • Contact Directory

Design should be modern, clean, and data-forward — ideally Ascension Blue & Gray, if you’re building this for states.

8. Provide Each State With a Digital Investor Portal

The most powerful add-on.
Upload:

  • Prospectus PDF
  • Tract GIS maps
  • Project pipelines
  • Incentive forms
  • Local partner contacts
  • Pre-development calculators
  • “Notify me” lead capture for QOFs & investors

This positions the state as a platform, not just a document.

9. Host Virtual & In-Person Launch Events

Capital follows attention.
States should hold:

  • Investor webinars
  • Developer roundtables
  • QOF/QOZB matchmaking sessions
  • Regional OZ 2.0 roadshows
  • Collaborations with Family Office Club, Novogradac, ADP, CCIM, IEDC, SEDC, NAIOP

This builds momentum before the July 1, 2026 redesignation.

10. Ongoing Quarterly Reporting & Communication

To separate high-performing states from passive ones:

  • Quarterly OZ activity report
  • Pipeline updates
  • New census tract insights
  • Upcoming projects
  • Changes in regulatory guidance
  • Local success stories
  • This establishes the state as a reliable partner for long-term capital.

The Best Way To Assist A State

You guide them through a turnkey OZ 2.0 Prospectus System, which includes:

  • Research & data compilation
  • Tract-level analysis
  • Sector alignment
  • Opportunity mapping
  • Drafting & design of the investment prospectus
  • Digital portal build-out
  • Launch strategy
  • Ongoing reporting playbook