Developers, state officials face dual task with Opportunity Zone projects

Amid the rollout of the new federal Opportunity Zone program, developers and public officials are trying to balance two key objectives: Identifying shovel-ready projects — allowing investors to maximize the tax benefits of the law — and steering capital to low-income areas that weren’t already attracting investment and may have higher barriers to entry. The state believes it can check both boxes with the right coordination and by layering in the subsidies that have helped revitalize many of New Jersey’s cities and downtowns.