North Carolina Opportunity Zones 2.0

North Carolina OZ 2.0 Selection Process

Last updated: April 17, 2026. Status: Active — 30-day public feedback period opening April 2026.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce leads the state's OZ 2.0 selection, as designated by Governor Josh Stein. North Carolina has approximately 807 eligible tracts under OBBBA, and the state will nominate 202 tracts — 20 fewer than under OZ 1.0, reflecting the tightened federal eligibility criteria.

Seven counties lost eligibility entirely under the updated criteria: Camden, Currituck, Davie, Gates, Perquimans, Clay, and Yancey. These counties no longer have any eligible tracts for OZ 2.0 designation.

Process timeline:

• April 2026: Public feedback period opens (30-day window).
• Summer 2026: Commerce reviews submissions and recommends tracts to Governor Stein.
• By September 29, 2026: Governor Stein submits final nominations to Treasury.

Selection guidelines (three factors, as published by NC Commerce):

1. High-growth sector potential — tracts with strong potential to attract or expand businesses in advanced manufacturing, technology, life sciences, and clean energy.
2. Documented local investment plans — tracts supported by documented local plans and/or recent investments for community revitalization.
3. Housing expansion capacity — tracts where OZ designation can meaningfully expand housing supply, particularly near employment centers and transit corridors.

NC Commerce has published an interactive ArcGIS map of eligible tracts for public review.

Contact: Emily Roach Pandich, Director of Policy and Strategic Planning, Emily.roach@commerce.nc.gov.

Source: NC Commerce Opportunity Zones.