What Are Opportunity Zones

by: Michael Saunders

Opportunity Zones are an economic development tool that allows people to invest in distressed areas in the United States.

The purpose of the Opportunity Zone programs is to spur economic growth and job creation in low-income communities while providing tax benefits to investors.

Opportunity Zones were created under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Thousands of low-income communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories are designated as Qualified Opportunity Zones.

Taxpayers can invest in these zones through Qualified Opportunity Funds.   (continued...)

What Are Opportunity Zones
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About The Author Michael Saunders is an editor of TopGovernmentGrants.com. He edits a site on Community Foundations that highlights the Social Progress Index for Counties around the country and Opportunity Zones within these foundations' areas of coverage.

Additional Government Grants Resources

Grants From The Department of Labor
The Department of Labor was primarily created to nurture, promote and develop the welfare of job seekers, wage earners, and retirees of the United States of America, as well as to improve the country's working conditions, advance employment opportunities and ascertain work-related rights and benefits.

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Improving Health of People with Intellectual Disabilities Program
In keeping with this mission, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has constituted the Improving Health of People with Intellectual Disabilities Program in an attempt to financially support initiatives for people suffering from intellectual disabilities, thereby seeking to increase healthy behaviors and improve access to appropriate health services.

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National Endowment for the Humanities: Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections
The Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections(SCHC)program aims to help in tackling the complex challenge of preserving vast and diverse holdings of humanities materials.

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Alaska Native-Serving and Native Hawaiian-Seving Institutions Education Competitive Grants Program
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture has recently constituted the Alaska Native-Serving and Native Hawaiian-Seving Institutions Education Competitive Grants Program wherein it intends to award funds in an attempt to support education, applied research, and several other related community development programs.

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Health Resources and Services Administration: Affordable Care Act - Immediate Facility Improvements Program
The HRSA administers health care grants to eligible individuals, in order to help them obtain safe and quality care through the Affordable Care Act Capital Development (Immediate Facility Improvements Program).

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Construction Incentive Program for First Time Home Buyers in New York
The State of New York cares so much about its people. It looks out for them and constantly ascertains that their best interest is always protected. One of the ways in which the state has manifested this concern is through the establishment of the State of New York Mortgage Agency, more commonly referred to as SONYMA, which is a public authority established in 1970 designed to provide reasonable and affordable home-ownership opportunities to low and moderate income New Yorkers, especially to first time home buyers.

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Nutrition Obesity Research Centers Grant Program
In an attempt to support this mission, the National Institutes of Health has formed a partnership with the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) to establish the Nutrition Obesity Research Centers Grant Program wherein both agencies intend to solicit grant applications that wish to establish core centers which will be an essential part of an integrated program of nutrition and obesity research.

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