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Clearwater nominates four census tracts for Opportunity Zone 2.0 focusing on Ross Norton and North Greenwood areas
Summary
City staff told the council it nominated census tracts 258, 262, 264.01 and 264.02 for Opportunity Zone 2.0 under the federal update, arguing those tracts meet the new criteria and highlighting projects and infrastructure commitments intended to attract private investment.
City staff presented an informational briefing May 18 on Clearwater’s Opportunity Zone 2.0 nomination package, explaining why downtown (previously included) no longer qualified under updated federal criteria and outlining the four census tracts the city submitted for redesignation.
The staff presentation explained that the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act created Opportunity Zones and that the 2025 federal changes (referred to in the meeting as the 2.0 iteration) impose stricter criteria and require resubmission of nominated tracts. The city’s package highlights economic distress indicators, redevelopment potential and specific projects to demonstrate readiness for private capital.
The nominated tracts cover: census tract 258 (Ross Norton Park area); 262 (majority of North Greenwood); 264.01 (neighborhood south of Gulf to Bay bounded roughly by Court Street, South Highland and South Missouri); and 264.02 (downtown gateway area). Staff noted selection factors such as poverty and median household income, as well as examples of proposed projects (a Grove business container village, Yo Mama’s Foods and workforce/affordable housing projects) intended to show local commitment and pipeline for investment.
Anita Barry of Johnson Stewart, the city’s government relations consultant, described outreach to the Florida Department of Commerce and the governor’s office to advocate for selection. She said state reviewers are seeking zones where private projects are properly zoned and ready to proceed. The nomination will be reviewed by state officials; if selected the redesignation could become effective Jan. 1, 2027.
Why it matters: Opportunity Zone designation provides federal tax‑advantaged incentives for private investors to direct capital gains into designated areas. The updated process is more selective than the original round, and selection could accelerate redevelopment and attract qualified funds to the nominated neighborhoods.
Next steps: staff awaits state review and the governor’s recommendation to the U.S. Treasury. If the state selects any of the nominated tracts the city will coordinate community engagement and project planning to ready eligible projects for investment.
