California outlines mid-June nomination window and prioritization criteria for Opportunity Zones 2.0

Brian Coleman, project financing manager with the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO'Biz), spent the webinar's final portion explaining how local governments can submit nominations for Opportunity Zones 2.0 and what GO'Biz will prioritize in evaluating submissions.

Coleman said GO'Biz expects to open an online application window for local jurisdiction nominations in mid'June and keep it open for several weeks, likely through late July. "We are aiming for mid to late June," he said, adding that the office will finalize submittal details and publish guidance on the dedicated Opportunity Zones 2.0 web page.

The agency will accept formal nominations from cities, counties, special districts, regional joint'powers authorities and similar public agencies; private stakeholders should coordinate with their local government partner to submit nominations. Coleman said the web form will request jurisdiction contact information, census tract numbers and brief responses explaining how a tract aligns with state priorities.

On evaluation, Coleman said GO'Biz and the California Department of Finance will prioritize census tracts that advance statewide and regional economic development plans, support affordable housing or align with housing needs assessments, include shovel'ready sites as defined by GO'Biz tools, and demonstrate planned public investment (for example, TIF activity or grant commitments). He also encouraged jurisdictions to highlight pipelines of development projects, the potential for job creation, and other indicators that would attract Opportunity Zone investment.

Coleman reiterated the state's timeline: GO'Biz intends to recommend tracts to the governor for submission to the U.S. Department of the Treasury by the Sept. 28, 2026 deadline; Treasury will certify nominations later in the year. He said webinar recordings, guidance materials and office hours will be posted to the GO'Biz Opportunity Zones 2.0 web page and that the office will publish an FAQ addressing questions raised during the session.

Why it matters: Local governments that want priority consideration should coordinate across planning, grants and TIF teams to prepare evidence of shovel'ready sites, affordable housing alignment, and planned public investment before the mid'June opening. Coleman emphasized collaboration between public agencies and private stakeholders for competitive submissions.

Next steps: GO'Biz will publish the application form and submittal guidance on its OZ 2.0 web page, host office hours and continue informational webinars; jurisdictions should monitor GO'Biz communications and prepare materials in advance of the nomination window.