Ohio Names 260 Tracts as Federal Opportunity Zones

The designations, approved by the U.S. Treasury, take effect January 1 under the Opportunity Zones 2.0 program.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Economic Policy

Isometric editorial illustration of a row of empty brick storefronts on a quiet main street, one doorway open to light, set against flat farmland. — Ohio has named 260 census tracts as federal Opportunity Zones, with the designations taking effect January 1 under the Opportunity Zones 2.0 program. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Ohio has named 260 census tracts as federal opportunity zones, approved by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The designations stem from 951 nominations submitted to the Ohio Department of Development, representing 515 of the state's 1,040 eligible tracts.

Why it matters

The program offers federal tax incentives to encourage outside investment in housing, business expansion, job creation and community revitalization. Ninety-six of the nominated tracts are in rural communities, extending the program's reach beyond urban centers.

Of Ohio's 1,040 eligible census tracts, 515 were nominated, and 260 were approved by the U.S. Treasury, with 96 located in rural communities. The total investment these designations will attract has not been quantified in available figures.

The players

U.S. Department of the Treasury

The federal agency that approved all 260 nominated census tracts for opportunity zone designation under the program's rules.

DeWine Administration

Ohio's state executive administration, led by Governor Mike DeWine, which nominated the tracts from the statewide survey results.

Ohio Department of Development

The state agency that received 951 nominations representing 515 of Ohio's eligible census tracts.

The details

The 260 tracts were nominated by the DeWine Administration from a statewide survey and approved by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Defiance and Williams counties each received one designated zone, and the designations remain in effect through 2036.

2017: Federal opportunity zones program originally established.
2018: Ohio's first round of 320 opportunity zones designated across 73 counties.
2025: Congress enacted the permanent Opportunity Zones 2.0 framework.
Jan. 1, 2027: Opportunity Zones 2.0 program takes effect.
2036: Newly designated zones remain in effect through this year.

Economic Policy Context

The 260 new tracts are fewer than the 320 designated in Ohio's 2018 first round, reflecting the reduced scope of the redesignation process under the 2025 Opportunity Zones 2.0 framework. The renewal arrives as the program's 10-year redesignation requirement comes due.

Investors and developers can now evaluate the 260 newly designated Ohio tracts for federal tax incentives ahead of the January 1 start date. Residents in Defiance and Williams counties should watch for investment activity in their newly designated zones.

The takeaway

Opportunity zone designations are a lever for targeted private investment, and their real impact will depend on which projects the 2026 tracts attract over the coming decade. Readers tracking Ohio's economic development should follow how the 96 rural tracts perform against the urban designations.