Four census tracts spanning Clinton, Fayette and Highland counties have been selected as federal Opportunity Zones, according to state officials. Fayette County received two of the tracts, while Clinton and Highland each received one.
The designations are part of a statewide group of 260 tracts approved by the U.S. Department of the Treasury after the DeWine administration submitted nominations. They fall under the federal Opportunity Zones 2.0 program, which state officials said begins Jan. 1, 2027, and runs through 2036.
The program offers federal tax incentives intended to draw outside capital into economically distressed and developing areas. State officials described the focus as business expansion, workforce housing and neighborhood infrastructure.
Ohio's original Opportunity Zone map, launched in 2018, covered 320 census tracts in 73 counties. Congress converted the program into a permanent framework in 2025 and required states to revisit eligible zones every decade. For the new map, the Ohio Department of Development reviewed 951 nominations covering 515 eligible tracts, the agency said. Of the 260 approved statewide, 96 are in rural communities.
Gov. Mike DeWine said the zones can help attract investment for downtowns, jobs and housing. Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik said local input helped identify areas with development potential.
Other nearby designations include Ross County with one tract, Brown with two, Adams with one, Greene with three, Warren with one and Butler with seven.