Georgia Nominates Census Tracts for Opportunity Zones

Governor Brian Kemp submitted 235 tracts in September to help spur development in underserved communities.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Commercial

Georgia Nominates Census Tracts for Opportunity Zones

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Do you believe federal tax breaks for developers effectively revitalize struggling local communities?

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp submitted 235 census tracts for the federal Opportunity Zone 2.0 program in September 2026. This initiative aims to drive private investment into low-income areas by allowing developers to defer taxes on redeployed capital gains.

Why it matters

The program seeks to revitalize economically challenged areas by providing financial incentives that lower the barrier to entry for large-scale development projects. High construction and financing costs have historically hindered major infrastructure and housing efforts in these regions.

The nomination includes 13 census tracts in Gwinnett County, providing a pathway for incentives at the Gwinnett Place Mall site. Proposed plans for that project feature 3,800 housing units and 55,000 square feet of retail space.

The players

Brian Kemp

Brian Kemp is the Governor of Georgia who oversaw the state's submission of census tracts for federal designation.

The details

The Opportunity Zone 2.0 program, established under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, makes these designations permanent with decade-long updates. This designation is critical for projects like the Gwinnett Place Mall redevelopment, where project financing costs currently limit development capacity.

The initial opportunity zone program was created in 2017.
Georgia submitted the nominated census tracts in September 2026.
New program designations are scheduled to occur every decade starting January 1, 2027.
Certified opportunity zones are expected to take effect in January 2027.

Culture Shift

This program reflects a broader movement toward utilizing targeted tax incentives to address long-term regional economic stagnation. By moving from temporary to permanent designations, the policy aligns with a systemic effort to guarantee predictable long-term private investment.

For residents in nominated census tracts, this program could accelerate the delivery of new housing units and retail space through increased private developer interest. These incentives aim to improve local infrastructure and economic activity in regions currently undergoing redevelopment planning.

The takeaway

The Opportunity Zone 2.0 program provides a structured, long-term framework for developers to revitalize underused urban and rural land. Residents should track if their local area receives final certification, as this often signals the start of significant neighborhood redevelopment phases.