The U.S. Department of the Treasury has approved all 37 census tracts recommended by Governor Spencer J. Cox for Opportunity Zone designation. The decision confirms Utah’s full slate of recommended zones without changes, allowing urban and rural communities statewide to begin to plan for the enhanced investment options the zones provide.
In September, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) formally submitted its recommended 37 census tracts to the Treasury for designation. GOED selected these nominations from 147 eligible tracts through a data-driven evaluation that combined economic and demographic indicators with extensive input from local leaders, economic development organizations, and business owners. A map of the now-approved tracts is available online.
Originally established under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Opportunity Zones are federally established economic development tools that direct investment to economically distressed communities in need of capital. The program encourages long-term investment in qualifying areas by offering tax advantages to individuals and corporations that invest in these areas via Qualified Opportunity Funds.
To learn more about Opportunity Zones or see the approved tracts, visit https://business.utah.gov/opportunity-zones/.