Tallahassee-Leon County to Host Opportunity Zone 2.0 Workshop as Part of Statewide Tour

The Tallahassee-Leon County Office of Economic Vitality (OEV), in partnership with FloridaCommerce, will host an Opportunity Zone 2.0 Workshop on April 9, 2026, at 9 a.m. at Lively Technical College (Building 9), 500 N. Appleyard Drive, Tallahassee, Fla.

The workshop is part of FloridaCommerce’s statewide Opportunity Zone 2.0 Tour, a community-driven initiative designed to gather input and recommendations for Florida’s next round of Opportunity Zone designations.

Opportunity Zones are a federal economic development tool that incentivizes private investment in underserved communities. As the program transitions into its next phase, Opportunity Zone 2.0, local input will be crucial for identifying census tracts that are not only eligible but also well-positioned to attract investment, create jobs, and generate long-term economic growth.

“This workshop is an important opportunity for our community to help shape the future of economic development in Tallahassee-Leon County,” said Keith Bowers, director of the Office of Economic Vitality. “We are focused on ensuring that our Opportunity Zone recommendations are both strategic and competitive, aligning strong data, development readiness, and real market potential.”

The workshop will bring together local government leaders, community stakeholders, developers, and business representatives to:

• Provide an overview of the Opportunity Zone 2.0 program and timeline
• Share data and tools to support local recommendations
• Discuss criteria for identifying high-performing, investment-ready census tracts
• Gather feedback to inform submissions to FloridaCommerce

A key focus of the discussion will be distinguishing between eligibility and investment readiness, ensuring that nominated areas not only meet statutory requirements but also demonstrate a clear pathway to project execution and economic impact. The workshop will also highlight how local assets, including development-ready sites and infrastructure capacity, can strengthen the case for designation.

FloridaCommerce is currently conducting outreach across the state, with community recommendations due April 30, 2026, and gubernatorial nominations expected to begin on July 1, 2026. New Opportunity Zone designations are anticipated to take effect on January 1, 2027.

Local leaders, businesses, and community stakeholders are encouraged to attend the April 9 workshop and play an active role in shaping the future of Opportunity Zone investment in Leon County.