Business and Economic Development



What is an Opportunity Zone?

An Opportunity Zone is an economically-distressed community (census tract) where new investments may be eligible for preferential tax treatment.

CLICK TO SEE HOW OPPORTUNITY ZONES WORK WITH INVESTORS, GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS TO REVITALIZE THEIR COMMUNITIES.
Opportunity Zone Presentation
Where is Walton County's Designated Opportunity Zone?

Opportunity Zone Location Map


Walton County FL Map

Walton County Opportunity Zone Statistical and Demographic Overview

  1. ACS Housing Summary Opportunity Zone
  2. ACS Population Summary Opportunity Zone
  3. Business Summary Opportunity Zone
  4. Community Profile Opportunity Zone
  5. Infographic Opportunity Zone
  6. Market Profile Opportunity Zone
  7. Restaurant Market Opportunity Zone
  8. Retail Demand Outlook Opportunity Zone

Scott Turner: The White House's Vision for Opportunity Zones


How can the resources of the Federal government be leveraged to help deliver generational impact to Opportunity Zone communities?

Scott Turner is the newly appointed executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council — a group of cabinet members and White House officials charged with coordinating Federal agency efforts to magnify the impact of investments in Opportunity Zones.

Click this link to listen to the Podcast: Opportunity Zones Hosted By Jimmy Atkinson

Important Links for Opportunity Zone, Investment and Community Resilience and Revitalization

Executive Order on Establishing the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council - 

President Trump signed an Executive Order establishing the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council. The Council will engage with all levels of government on ways to better use taxpayer dollars to revitalize low-income communities. The Council will improve revitalization efforts by streamlining, coordinating, and targeting existing Federal programs to economically distressed areas, including Opportunity Zones. 
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The White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council - The Opportunity Zone tax incentive is a powerful new tool meant to bring private capital to under-served communities.  However, economically distressed communities require more than private capital alone. Many of these communities are in need of public-sector support and regulatory streamlining to ensure they develop the foundations necessary to support a
 thriving private sector. Public investment in economic development, entrepreneurship, education and workforce training, and safe neighborhoods — along with guidance for engaging with investors and entrepreneurs — will help communities unlock private capital to create sustainable growth. This public-sector investment serves as a means by which to attract and continue the flow of private capital-investment into Opportunity Zones.
 
Implementation Plan for the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council - Implementation Report to the President in accordance with Executive Order 13853 “Establishing the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council.” This report outlines the plan of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council (Council) to implement administrative reforms and initiatives that will target, streamline, coordinate, and optimize Federal resources in economically distressed communities to stimulate economic development, encourage entrepreneurship, expand educational and workforce development opportunities, and promote safe neighborhoods.
 The Education Opportunity in Opportunity Zones - More than 8,700 newly created Opportunity Zones are now racing to attract a portion of the $6 trillion in capital that may flow under a provision of the new tax law enacted in 2017. The law uses a package of tax incentives to jump-start economic development in distressed communities by financing local startups, building small businesses, or developing properties—but there are also opportunities for education institutions and workforce-development programs.