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Board adds two census tracts to county packet of proposed Opportunity Zones to send to state
Summary
Commissioners voted to include two additional census tracts in the county’s Opportunity Zone package, expanding the number forwarded to the state to 18 tracts; staff said added tracts meet program criteria and could spur local redevelopment incentives.
Lee County commissioners voted March 17 to add two additional census tracts to the county’s proposed list of opportunity zones to be forwarded to the state for consideration.
Commissioner Bula, who pulled the item for discussion, said he supported the program and asked staff to consider including tract number 29 (in downtown Bonita Springs area mentioned as close to qualifying) and tract number 32 (in Commissioner Hammond’s district adjacent to Barrett Park redevelopment areas). County planning staff and Mark Mo said both tracts met the published criteria and that the final submission will include a total of 18 tracts.
Staff said they evaluated 38 census tracts and selected 16 originally; the two additions bring the county’s packet in line with geographic and redevelopment priorities identified by commissioners. The motion to add the two tracts carried with no objection recorded in the transcript.
County staff said the list will be submitted to the state for review and possible designation under the Opportunity Zones program, which can provide tax incentives and other incentives to private investment in designated low‑income census tracts.
