Governor Meyer Nominated 25 Census Tracts for Zones
The nominations for Opportunity Zone designation aim to drive investment across Delaware's three counties.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Regional Economics
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Governor Matt Meyer has nominated 25 census tracts for Opportunity Zone designation to stimulate economic growth. The selection follows a statewide process that evaluated 61 eligible areas for their potential to attract investment.
Why it matters
These designations are designed to target communities where economic need and investability intersect to foster development. By incentivizing capital flow into these specific areas, the state aims to encourage long-term financial engagement.
The nomination pool includes 13 tracts in New Castle County, 5 in Kent County, and 7 in Sussex County. Qualifying investments in these rural designated areas offer a 30% basis increase for investors.
The players
Matt Meyer
Matt Meyer is the Governor of Delaware who is responsible for the state's economic development administration.
Division of Small Business
The Division of Small Business is the Delaware state agency that managed the review and nomination of the census tracts.
U.S. Department of the Treasury
The U.S. Department of the Treasury is the federal cabinet department that must grant final certification for the state's nominations.
The details
The Division of Small Business managed the nomination process, coordinating with municipal land-use leaders to ensure the choices aligned with existing comprehensive plans. All selected tracts in Kent and Sussex counties fall under the federal rural designation, qualifying them for specific tax basis incentives.
Timeline
The initial investor engagement process began in December 2025.
The statewide nomination process opened on March 4, 2026.
The nomination submission window closed on May 15, 2026.
The designations will become effective on January 1, 2027, pending federal certification.
Macro View
The state's selection process mirrors broader efforts to revitalize under-invested areas through federal tax incentives. This move aligns with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 Opportunity Zone provisions to facilitate regional capital investment.
Investors may be able to defer eligible capital gains through Qualified Opportunity Funds once the designations are active. Residents in these tracts may see increased interest from developers and new capital projects in their local communities.
The takeaway
These designations are intended to drive targeted investment into local tracts identified for their economic potential. Interested investors should monitor federal certification updates to understand how these zones impact their tax planning strategies.
What happens next
The U.S. Department of the Treasury is expected to review the state's nominations with a potential effective date of January 1, 2027.
Further reading
For additional context on local development, see Delaware Regional Economics.
Live Poll
Do you believe state-led Opportunity Zone tax incentives effectively boost economic growth in your community?
