The Opportunity Zones incentive is a community investment tool established initially by Congress in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 to encourage long-term investments in low-income urban and rural communities nationwide. Opportunity Zones provide a tax benefit for qualified property investments in designated zones; the program was made permanent in federal legislation in 2025.
Opportunity Zones 2.0 (begins 1/1/27)
During the new selection process in 2026, each State is allowed to identify up to 25% of its qualifying census tracts for inclusion in the program, with a minimum of 25 per State. Maine has 78 potentially eligible tracts based on the criteria set by Congress, out of which the Governor must select the 25 to be designated as Opportunity Zones. The Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) has been chosen to make recommendations to the Governor as to which census tracts should be included in the program.
To inform the selection of Maine's 25 eligible tracts, DECD is collecting information on properties under active consideration for development.
Municipalities and developers may submit information by April 30, 2026, on potential developments using this form: https://forms.office.com/g/SaaDjrUQ2c
A map of census tracts potentially eligible for Opportunity Zone designation is available here: https://mainestateeconomist207.github.io/oz-tract-nom-2026/maine-map-w-boundaries.html
The list of potentially eligible tracts may be viewed in spreadsheet form here (Excel): Potentially Eligible OZ Tracts in Maine.xlsx
Opportunity Zones 1.0 (ends 12/31/26)
More information on the existing Opportunity Zones program, including answers to frequently asked questions, is available on IRS.gov.
- Treasury Opportunity Zones Resources: https://www.cdfifund.gov/opportunity-zones
- IRS FAQ page: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/opportunity-zones-frequently-asked-questions
- Complete list of Maine Opportunity Zones (PDF)
- Download Maine Opportunity Zones Map (PDF)