Return Back

Jul 2, 2018

New Opportunity Zones Could be a New Beginning for Miami’s Inner-City

Table of Contents

    [av_layout_row border=” min_height_percent=” min_height=’0′ color=’main_color’ mobile=’av-flex-cells’ id=” av_element_hidden_in_editor=’0′]

    [av_cell_two_third vertical_align=’top’ padding=’30px’ background_color=” src=” background_attachment=’scroll’ background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ mobile_display=”]

    [av_image src=’https://www.beaconcouncil.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/opportunity-zones.png’ attachment=’11842′ attachment_size=’full’ align=’center’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’no-animation’ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”][/av_image]

    [av_heading tag=’h1′ padding=’10’ heading=’New Opportunity Zones Could be a New Beginning for Miami’s Inner-City’ color=” style=” custom_font=” size=” subheading_active=” subheading_size=’15’ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=” av-desktop-hide=” av-medium-hide=” av-small-hide=” av-mini-hide=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=”][/av_heading]

    [av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”]
    Author: Miami-Dade Beacon Council

    There is a new economic development tool that you should be aware of that has been devised to encourage the growth of businesses in low income areas.

    This started as a  little-noticed provision of last year’s tax reform push. Today “Opportunity Zones” are starting to take shape, and according to several urban experts, has the potential to become the nation’s largest economic development program.

    The program provides a tax incentive for investors to re-invest their unrealized capital gains into Opportunity Funds that are dedicated to investing into Opportunity Zones; specific low-income areas, based on designations by governors. The sites are chosen by the state and then approved by the Federal government.

    Out of the 427 Opportunity Zones sites in Florida; 68 of those locations are in Miami-Dade County.

    “The creation of these new Opportunity Zones provides new investment opportunities for some of Miami’s economically distressed areas,” said Michael Finney President & CEO, Miami-Dade Beacon Council.   “This means greater consideration will be given to investing and providing jobs in areas of the county where they are needed most,” Finney said.

    Opportunity Zones are economic development tools, created to spur economic development by providing tax benefits to investors. The zones:

    • Allow investors to defer tax on any prior gains until the earlier of the date on which an investment is sold or exchanged, or December 31, 2026, so long as the gain is reinvested in a Qualified Opportunity Fund.  If held for the full ten years, the tax reduction is 15%.
    • If the investor holds the investment in the Opportunity Fund for at least ten years, the investor would be eligible for an increase in basis equal to the fair market value of the investment on the date that the investment is sold or exchanged.

    The concept behind Opportunity Zones is that the longer the investment is held, the lighter the tax burden.

    The Opportunity Zone sites throughout Miami-Dade County and Florida were certified by the U.S. Treasury on June 14, 2018.
    [/av_textblock]

    [av_hr class=’invisible’ height=’10’ shadow=’no-shadow’ position=’center’ custom_border=’av-border-thin’ custom_width=’50px’ custom_border_color=” custom_margin_top=’30px’ custom_margin_bottom=’30px’ icon_select=’yes’ custom_icon_color=” icon=’ue808′ font=’entypo-fontello’ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”]

    [av_social_share title=’Share this entry’ style=” buttons=” custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”]

    [av_postslider link=’category,89′ columns=’3′ items=’3′ offset=’0′ contents=’title_read_more’ preview_mode=’auto’ image_size=’portfolio’ autoplay=’no’ interval=’5′ custom_class=”]

    [/av_cell_two_third][av_cell_one_third vertical_align=’top’ padding=’30px’ background_color=” src=” background_attachment=’scroll’ background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ mobile_display=”]

    [av_sidebar widget_area=’Sidebar Blog’]

    [/av_cell_one_third][/av_layout_row]

    shaping our future

    Stay Up-to-Date on Miami-Dade’s Economic Progress

    South Florida Economic Development Organizations Visit New York City in Joint Effort to Strengthen Business Connections and Shared Economic Ties

    Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade Counties’ economic development leaders spotlight current connectivity and new cross-market opportunities between NYC and South Florida ‘Mega Region’ SOUTH FLORIDA (December 2, 2025) – The Business Development Board of Palm Beach...

    Miami-Dade Beacon Council Announces 2025-2026 Board Of Directors, New Board Chair, And Chair-Elect

    Board’s Focus Will Usher in New Ways for Attracting Investments and Developing Talent Across the Region MIAMI, FL – October 28, 2025 – The Miami-Dade Beacon Council, the County’s official public-private economic development partnership, today announced the 2025-2026...

    Miami-Dade Beacon Council And Foundation Celebrate Return Of Beacon Awards, Honoring Everyday Leaders Powering Miami’s Growth

    Signature Awards Program Held on Oct . 22 , Presented 1 1 Awards, Recognizing Excellence Across Sectors, Small Business, One2Watch, Jay Malina Leadership Award, and New Founders’ Award MIAMI, FL – October 23, 2025 – The Beacon Council Foundation together with the...

    Beacon Council Foundation Names 2025 Beacon Awards Finalists

    Six industry winners, along with the One2Watch and the Small Business awards, to be announced live on Oct. 22 MIAMI, FL (September 16, 2025) – The Beacon Foundation together with the Miami-Dade Beacon Council, the County’s official public-private economic development...

    Miami-Dade Beacon Council and Opportunity Miami Win Bronze Excellence in Economic Development Award from the International Economic Development Council

    MIAMI, FL (August 26, 2025) – The Miami-Dade Beacon Council, the County’s official public-private economic development partnership, is proud to announce that together withOpportunity Miami, a Beacon Council Foundation-driven platform that helps catalyze the Miami of...

    The 2025 Beacon Awards To Honor Visionary Leaders Powering Greater Miami’s Economic Future

    Honorees include Alex Villoch, Mas Family, and Dr. Eduardo Padron MIAMI, FL (July 30, 2025) – The Miami-Dade Beacon Council today announced this year’s distinguished honorees for the upcoming Beacon Awards, the organization’s signature recognition program returning...