The nomination application submission launch for Opportunity Zones 2.0 designation has been postponed. This is happening due to delays in the U.S. Treasury’s final guidance regarding the determination of eligible census tracts. This determination is fundamental to the program, so the Department of Commerce will wait to open census tract nomination application submission in Washington until the final eligibility list is confirmed.
What can you do during this delay?
Visit the Opportunity Zones program landing page to learn more. While visiting this website, we encourage you to learn more by watching recordings of past community presentations and reviewing the second drafts of our census tract nomination application and the application scoring criteria. Both documents have been revised following a public input period.
- View and download the second draft of the census tract nomination application (MS Word). Please note, if you are unable to access this MS Word-formatted document, email us at Community.Engagement@Commerce.wa.gov for assistance.
- View and download the second draft of the nomination application scoring criteria (PDF).
- You can also explore our Washington state Opportunity Zones GIS map of currently eligible census tracts and access additional program background.
- View and download our most recent Opportunity Zones Frequently Asked Questions (PDF).
We expect this information to be updated periodically in the coming weeks and invite you to sign up to receive periodic updates from the OZ 2.0 program.
We understand this delay is frustrating. Commerce is committed to providing an adequate nomination window before the federal deadline of September 29, 2026, and we will notify you as soon as the application is open. In the meantime, we encourage you to review the updated draft application and scoring criteria so you can begin preparing your submission now.