The Best OZ 2.0 Resources

A new era of Opportunity Zone development is on the horizon. Plus, OZ Insiders is hosting a private networking dinner in Las Vegas next month, and you’re invited!

On this month’s episode of OZ NewsHour, Jimmy Atkinson and Andy Hagans break down the latest news and trends shaping the OZ landscape — including Andy’s top five OZ 2.0 resources.

Andy’s Top 5 OZ 2.0 Resources

  1. OpportunityZones.com
  2. The Opportunity Zones Podcast
  3. Jill Homan’s OZ Outlook Newsletter
  4. Novogradac Opportunity Zone Resource Center
  5. Economic Innovation Group

Opportunity Zone News & Events

About OZ NewsHour

OZ NewsHour covers the key stories happening right now in the world of Opportunity Zones. Hosts Andy Hagans and Jimmy Atkinson discuss the powerful trends that investors, fund managers, real estate developers, and industry professionals need to know. If it’s a must-know development in the Opportunity Zone world, we cover it here.

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Episode Summary

OZ Insiders Dinner Expands Ahead of Novogradac Las Vegas Conference

Andy opens the episode by announcing rapid growth in the OZ Insiders mastermind group and previewing a major private dinner planned during the upcoming Novogradac Opportunity Zones Conference in Las Vegas. The dinner was initially full, but Jimmy shares that after speaking with the venue, an overflow room was secured, reopening limited spots. Over 45 members have already RSVP’d, making it the largest OZ Insiders dinner to date. Past dinners typically drew 10 to 12 attendees, with Washington DC hosting 20 to 25 last year; the Las Vegas event will far exceed prior turnout.

The dinner will take place at Border Grill at Mandalay Bay, and Jimmy notes he is expecting a lively evening with chips, salsa, and beverages. Both hosts emphasize the recent surge in OZ Insiders membership, which has surpassed 75 members. They attribute the momentum to the renewed industry energy following passage of the tax bill in the summer, which revitalized the Opportunity Zone space.

Andy highlights the strong engagement across recent OZ Insiders Masterclasses and encourages new viewers to consider joining. He notes that the Novogradac conference itself is expected to be one of the most well-attended OZ events in years, with high energy and industry activity.

Upcoming OZ Insiders Masterclasses for December and January

The hosts review the upcoming Masterclass schedule for OZ Insiders members. On Monday, December 8, Jimmy will co-lead “How to Lobby for OZ 2.0 Designation,” joined by Kenan Fikri and Catherine Lyons from the Economic Innovation Group. Andy notes that the topic is timely, as more local officials, developers, and community leaders have shown interest in understanding how Opportunity Zone map redesignation will unfold.

Jimmy explains that the OZ 2.0 designation process will be more deliberate than the original OZ 1.0 rollout, but it will still move quickly. He says developers want to know how to ensure current OZ projects remain inside the new map, while others want guidance on securing OZ designation for emerging areas. The Masterclass will address how to lobby state officials effectively.

In January, Jimmy will host his “OZ Outlook for 2026.” He previews that 2026 represents the final meaningful year for OZ 1.0 capital raising, with some spillover possibly occurring in 2027 or 2028. Many investors with 2026 gains may choose to delay reinvestment to take advantage of OZ 2.0’s improved tax benefits, but OZ funds will still raise throughout the year. Jimmy expects that many fund sponsors will spend late 2026 collecting indications of interest for OZ 2.0 funds launching on January 1, 2027. His January 12 Masterclass will outline expectations for sponsors, developers, and investors heading into 2026 and will include a brief preview of 2027.

Record Attendance at November OZ Pitch Day

Andy congratulates Jimmy on delivering one of the most successful OZ Pitch Day events in several years. Jimmy reports that the November 13 Pitch Day was the largest since 2020–2021. Over 1,100 people registered and more than 400 attended live, making it the second-highest-attended Pitch Day ever, and the most-attended in over four years. Thirteen sponsors presented their OZ funds or deals, also the most in over four years.

Jimmy expresses appreciation for the title partner, Green Street NYC, which presented a Williamsburg multifamily project and drew over 250 live viewers during its segment. Andy notes that throughout the day the Zoom chat and Q&A functions were highly active, with comments and questions numbering in the hundreds.

Jimmy reminds viewers that the full replay and pitch decks are available on OpportunityZones.com, with recordings of each presentation.

He also previews upcoming dates: the next OZ Pitch Day is scheduled for March 12, 2026, with two additional 2026 events tentatively planned for early September and mid-November. The later events will likely focus heavily on OZ 2.0 fund launches for January 2027.

Andy’s Top Five OZ 2.0 Resources

Andy shares his personal list of the five best Opportunity Zone resources, aimed at the growing number of new investors, developers, and professionals entering the OZ ecosystem.

The list begins with the Economic Innovation Group, which he calls the “OG” of Opportunity Zones, referencing their 2016 white paper that introduced the concept. EIG continues to publish research and policy analysis and leads a coalition of industry stakeholders. Jimmy notes their economic reports, including findings that over 313,000 residential units were delivered between 2019 and 2024 due to OZ incentives.

Second is Novogradac, including their OZ Resource Center, legislative tracking, and conferences. Jimmy emphasizes their role as a source of record for regulatory and legislative updates at both state and federal levels.

Third is the Opportunity Zones Outlook, curated by Jill Homan. Andy highlights her consistent reporting on local and mid-size OZ developments nationwide. Jimmy notes that she uncovers many stories he does not find elsewhere, and both hosts encourage viewers to subscribe at jillhoman.com.

Andy’s fourth pick is the Opportunity Zones Podcast, which Jimmy began in 2018. Andy calls it the connective tissue of the industry. Jimmy recounts launching the show as a way to learn directly from experts and has since recorded more than 350 episodes.

Number one on Andy’s list is OpportunityZones.com, citing the fund database, OZ map, and the Beginner’s Guide to Opportunity Zones, which has helped thousands of newcomers. A new Beginner’s Guide to OZ 2.0 is planned for release in 2026, along with additional website improvements.

Jimmy points out that representatives from EIG, Novogradac, and Jill Homan will all be attending the upcoming OZ Insiders dinner, underscoring the depth of expertise available within the community.

Urban Institute Webinar on OZ 2.0 Selection and the Goldilocks Concept

Jimmy shares insights from a recent Urban Institute webinar led by Brett Theodos, featuring a panel that included David Wessel. The research examined Ohio OZ performance, showing that one-third of eligible zones received investment between 2019 and 2024, with more than half of total investment concentrated in nine zones. Rural zones saw minimal investment compared to Cleveland and Columbus.

Jimmy notes that OZ 2.0’s rural incentives may shift capital toward rural areas in the next cycle. The webinar’s key recommendation for states is to target “Goldilocks areas”—zones that are neither too strong to need OZ incentives nor too distressed to support development. The Urban Institute provided examples in Chicago, Brooklyn, and West Virginia.

Picks of the Month

Jimmy’s pick is the Opportunity Zones panel he recently joined at the Fort Worth Club, organized by Brandon Chicotsky of God Bless Retirement, alongside attorneys Veronica Law and Brad Malotsky. He reports that the room included about 75 local executives, bankers, and developers, as well as city officials exploring OZ lobbying strategies for Texas. Jimmy notes Fort Worth currently has only six OZs, while Houston has more than 100, and local leaders hope to increase their allocations in OZ 2.0.

Andy’s pick is an article by OZ Insiders member Frances Kern Mennone titled “The Strategic Selection of Opportunity Zones 2.0: A Governor’s Guide to Best Practices.” Andy highlights recommendations for targeting tracts around 50–60 percent AMI with positive growth indicators and for avoiding areas with inadequate infrastructure. Jimmy offers one point of pushback, suggesting that tracts between 60 and 70 percent AMI should still be considered in many states under the more rigorous OZ 2.0 criteria.

Andy concludes by emphasizing the importance of discussing OZ 2.0 selection issues now, well ahead of the designation window, noting that deadlines will arrive quickly.