Nebraska Secures 28 Opportunity Zones to Encourage Private Investment

Nebraska has secured approval for 28 census tracts to participate in the federal Opportunity Zones 2.0 program, opening the door for new private investment in communities across the state.

On Oct. 30, Gov. Jim Pillen announced that the U.S. Treasury Department approved the state’s nominations, which include communities in all three congressional districts. The designations will officially take effect on Jan. 1, 2027.

The approved areas include 10 census tracts in Omaha, five in Lincoln, and communities such as Bellevue, Fremont, Columbus, Norfolk, Beatrice, Hastings, North Platte, and Scottsbluff.

Nebraska’s Census Tracts Nominated for Designation as Opportunity Zones

Congressional District 1

1. Bellevue – Census Tract 104.02
2. Columbus – Census Tract 9656
3. Fremont – Census Tract 9642
4. Lincoln – Census Tract 5
5. Lincoln – Census Tract 6
6. Lincoln – Census Tract 18
7. Lincoln – Census Tract 21
8. Lincoln – Census Tract 31.04
9. Norfolk – Census Tract 9607

Congressional District 2

1. Omaha – Census Tract 8
2. Omaha – Census Tract 11
3. Omaha – Census Tract 12
4. Omaha – Census Tract 16
5. Omaha – Census Tract 27
6. Omaha – Census Tract 29
7. Omaha – Census Tract 34.01
8. Omaha – Census Tract 40
9. Omaha – Census Tract 42
10. Omaha – Census Tract 70.01

Congressional District 3

1. Alliance – Census Tract 9513
2. Beatrice – Census Tract 9649
3. Crete – Census Tract 9606.02
4. Hastings – Census Tract 9660
5. Lexington – Census Tract 9685
6. McCook – Census Tract 9633
7. North Platte – Census Tract 9602
8. Ogallala – Census Tract 1
9. Scottsbluff – Census Tract 9537

The Opportunity Zones Program encourages private investment in economically distressed communities by offering tax incentives to investors who put capital into designated areas through qualified Opportunity Funds.

Investments can support new business development, workforce housing, and other economic growth projects.

The new version of the program also introduces additional incentives for rural communities. Qualified Rural Opportunity Funds offer investors a 30% basis step-up compared with 10% for standard funds. The program also lowers the substantial improvement threshold for rehabilitation projects in rural areas from 100% to 50%.

Pillen said the designations provide another tool to attract investment, create jobs, and help Nebraska communities continue growing.

“I’m proud to say that Nebraska was one of the first states to act and make nominations to this program,” said Gov. Pillen. “These identified tracts are now poised to benefit from investment that will help spur housing, jobs and attract workforce talent. Nebraska is open for business. This is another tool that will provide our communities the support they need for continued growth.”

To learn more about Opportunity Zones, visit the Department of Economic Development’s website. You can find the complete map of nominated census tracts here.