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Dear Texas Economic Development Stakeholders,
The U.S. Department of Treasury has released the official listing of eligible census tracts for designation under the Opportunity Zone 2.0 program. We are pleased to notify you that our office has now updated the Texas map of eligible tracts on our website to assist you during the community nomination process which ends June 26, 2026.
The Opportunity Zone program, established in 2017 and administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury, has been updated and made permanent through U.S. House Resolution 1—the One Big Beautiful Bill Act—passed by Congress in 2025. The renewed Opportunity Zone 2.0 program will take effect January 1, 2027, following the sunset of current designations at the end of 2026. The program offers incentives, in the form of capital gains tax abatement, for those who invest eligible capital into Qualified Opportunity Zone assets.
Opportunity Zone 2.0 continues the program’s mission of encouraging long-term private investment in low-income communities by offering federal tax incentives to investors, while strengthening accountability and refining eligibility criteria. The updated framework emphasizes support for rural communities, tightens the income threshold for eligible tracts and removes the contiguous tract allowance. Additional benefits, including enhanced capital gains exclusions and modified investment requirements, are designed to increase the flow of private capital into underserved areas.
Under Opportunity Zone 2.0, state governors will be able to nominate 25% of their respective state’s eligible census tracts (a total of up to 605 tracts under current eligibility) every ten years for U.S. Treasury certification as Opportunity Zone tracts.
Our office has created a map based on eligible tracts in Texas under the Opportunity Zone 2.0 program for your reference. To see full program details, tract eligibility, frequently asked questions, a map of potentially eligible tracts that may qualify and other helpful resources and information, visit the link below.
We are asking for Texas economic development organizations (EDOs) to submit nominations of tracts in their communities to EDT no later than June 26, 2026. The number of nominations that can be submitted for consideration will be based on the number of eligible tracts in the county. For more information and instructions, download the community nomination packet at the link below and submit it to our Opportunity Zone Team at OppZone2.0@gov.texas.gov.
From the list of eligible tracts nominated by the EDOs and counties, EDT will select tracts for Opportunity Zone 2.0 designations based on the following factors: statutory compliance, local support, project viability and geographic balance (for further description, please see the nomination packet). The number of tract designations which can be submitted to the U.S. Treasury is limited to 25% of the total eligible tracts in Texas. EDT intends to finalize and submit tract designations for certification no later than August 3, 2026.
Please don’t hesitate to contact our Opportunity Zone Team at OppZone2.0@gov.texas.gov or (512) 936-0100 if you have any questions. Communities, stakeholders and members of the public are invited to share questions, comments or relevant information with our Opportunity Zone Team.
Thank you for your continued partnership and we look forward to continuing our important work together as we build a bigger, better Texas for generations to come!
Sincerely,
 Adriana Cruz
Executive Director
Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office
Office of the Governor
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