Is Opportunity Knocking: Can Opportunity Zones Aid Distressed Neighborhoods?
Location: Harvard Kennedy School
The federal 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act created a new program that is supposed to spur long-term, transformative investments in low-income communities throughout the United States.
With the right regulations and guardrails in place, Opportunity Zones might catalyze inclusive economic growth in some of the nation’s most distressed neighborhoods. However, less ambitious guidelines might instead fuel investment in already gentrifying areas while too ambitious guidelines might further stymie desired improvements. This presentation and panel discussion will provide an overview of the Opportunity Zone initiative, with a focus on whether and how the initiative might achieve its backers’ ambitious goals.
Presentation:
Laurel Blatchford, President, Enterprise Community Partners
Comments:
Maria Cabildo, President, Fireflower Partners; Co-founder, former President and CEO, East L.A. Community Corporation; 2018-2019 Loeb Fellow
Jeana Dunlap, Director of Redevelopment Strategies, Louisville Metro Government; 2018-2019 Loeb Fellow
Moderator:
David Luberoff, Deputy Director, Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies
Harvard Kennedy School
Starr Auditorium
Free & open to the public
You may also be interested in our April 24 event with Baltimore Opportunity Zones Coordinator Ben Seigel.
