Opportunity Zones 2.0 Introduction

Wyoming is preparing recommendations for Opportunity Zones 2.0—a renewed federal tax incentive program designed to attract long-term private investment into eligible communities. In this webinar, representatives from the Governor’s Office, Wyoming Business Council, and CLA explain: • How Opportunity Zones work • Key differences between Opportunity Zones 1.0 and 2.0 • Why the expanded rural incentives could be especially valuable for Wyoming • How eligible census tracts are identified • What communities should submit to strengthen the case for designation • How Opportunity Zones can be combined with housing, infrastructure, workforce, and business-development tools Opportunity Zone designation does not guarantee funding or investment. Communities will still need viable sites, strong project pipelines, willing developers, and coordinated local leadership. However, when paired with other state, federal, local, and private resources, Opportunity Zones can help make important projects more financially competitive. Communities with specific projects, development opportunities, or tract recommendations should contact their Wyoming Business Council regional director or the Opportunity Zones team as soon as possible. Presentation materials, the interactive map, and additional resources are available on the Wyoming Business Council Opportunity Zones webpage. Chapters & Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Webinar Overview 01:44 Opportunity Zones Explained: What They Are and Why They Matter 06:53 Opportunity Zones 1.0 vs. 2.0: What's Changed? 10:05 Why Opportunity Zones Matter for Wyoming 16:15 How Wyoming Is Selecting Opportunity Zone Tracts 24:59 Understanding the Candidate Map: Green, Purple & Orange Tracts 27:33 What Communities Should Submit to Strengthen Their Case 31:27 Building Wyoming's Opportunity Zone Strategy 32:26 Q&A: Community Advocacy, Project Readiness & Selection Criteria 45:50 Timeline: Recommendations, Designations & Next Steps 52:04 Closing Remarks and How to Stay Involved