Indiana Submitted New Federal Opportunity Zone Nominations

The state has nominated 61 cities and towns across 47 counties for federal investment status.

Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Regional Economics

Indiana Submitted New Federal Opportunity Zone Nominations

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Indiana officials submitted nominations for new federal Opportunity Zones on Sept. 25, drawing from 350 public recommendations. These zones are designed to incentivize private investment in lower-income communities through tax-deferred capital gains.

Why it matters

The program encourages long-term economic development by funneling capital into designated areas that historically struggle with investment. By participating, Indiana aims to stimulate growth in dozens of regions through state-nominated and federally certified zones.

The state's submission includes 61 cities and towns across 47 counties, selected from 350 public recommendations. This follows an initial federal program round that established 8,700 zones nationwide, with 150 located in Indiana.

The players

Indiana

The state government submitted nominations for federal Opportunity Zones covering 61 cities and towns.

Federal Treasury

This government department is responsible for the official certification of nominated Opportunity Zones.

The details

Taxpayers can defer capital gains taxes by reinvesting their earnings into Qualified Opportunity Funds, which subsequently finance eligible businesses or properties within these zones. The program was recently made permanent as part of the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Qualified Opportunity Funds held over $108 billion in assets at the end of 2024.
Indiana submitted Opportunity Zone nominations on Sept. 25, 2026.
Federal Treasury certification could occur by Dec. 28, 2026.

Macro View

The submission of new Opportunity Zone nominations follows the permanent authorization of the program under the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act. This shift mirrors federal efforts to create stable long-term vehicles for private capital in distressed areas.

Residents in the 61 nominated cities and towns may see new investment projects or business development efforts in their local neighborhoods. These changes could impact local property markets and job availability as capital from Qualified Opportunity Funds is deployed into the state.

The takeaway

The federal Opportunity Zone program continues to serve as a primary vehicle for tax-advantaged private investment in underserved regions. Interested taxpayers should monitor Treasury updates to identify when specific tracts in their local area officially receive certification.

What happens next

The federal Treasury could finalize the certification of these nominated zones by Dec. 28, 2026, provided that available extensions are utilized in the process.