Two Nashville events will connect community leaders, developers, investors and economic development partners ahead of Opportunity Zones 2.0 predesignation period
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 1, 2026) — The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development will participate in hosting two Nashville events this week focused on Opportunity Zones 2.0, a community development tool designed to support investment, economic resilience and long-term growth in low-income communities.
TNECD, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, will host the Tennessee Funder’s Networking Reception on Monday, June 29. The public event is designed for community members, economic developers, elected officials, developers, investors, financial institutions, nonprofits and foundations interested in exploring shared priorities, project ideas and potential partnerships.
On Tuesday, June 30, TNECD will also take part in hosting the Tennessee Funder’s Project Showcase, which will help attendees better understand Opportunity Zones use cases, capital stack considerations and key pre-development planning needs.
Opportunity Zones 2.0 to Support Community Investment
Opportunity Zones were established by Congress through the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and reauthorized on July 4, 2025, through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The program provides a community development framework intended to encourage investment in low-income communities while supporting residents and long-term economic resilience.
The predesignation period for Opportunity Zones 2.0 begins July 1. Tennessee’s redesignation process will provide guidance for communities and partners interested in participating in the next phase of the program.
Event Highlights
The two-day event series will focus on building connections, sharing project opportunities and helping stakeholders better understand the role Opportunity Zones can play in community and economic development.
Key topics will include:
- Opportunity Zones 2.0 and Tennessee’s redesignation process
- Community investment strategies
- Project development and pre-development considerations
- Use case scenarios for Opportunity Zone projects
- Capital stack planning
- Partnerships among communities, developers, investors and financial institutions
- Opportunities for nonprofits, foundations and local leaders
Featured Participants
Scheduled participants include:
- Marc Schultz, Partner/Tax Attorney, Snell & Wilmer
- Walter Perry, Field Office Director, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
- Lamont Price, Innovation Director, TNECD
- Cody West, Vice President, CapZone Impact Investors
- Alex Flachsbart, Executive Director, OPAL
- Katherine Mize Iriarte, Vice President, Arcaris Impact Investors
Tennessee Funder’s Networking Reception
What: Networking Reception and media availability
When: Monday, June 29, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. CT
Where: Nashville Entrepreneur Center, 41 Peabody Street, Nashville, TN 37210
Who Should Attend: Community members, economic developers, elected officials, developers, investors, financial institutions, nonprofits and foundations
Tennessee Funder’s Project Showcase
What: Project Showcase and media availability
When: Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. CT
Where: Tennessee State Museum, 1000 Rosa L. Parks Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37208
Focus: Use case scenarios, capital stack planning and pre-development considerations for Opportunity Zone projects
Building Partnerships for Tennessee Communities
Through Opportunity Zones 2.0, Tennessee communities have an opportunity to align local project needs with investment partners and development resources. The upcoming events are intended to help stakeholders better understand how the program can support economic growth, community development and long-term resilience across the state.
By bringing together public-sector leaders, investors, developers, nonprofits and financial institutions, TNECD and its partners aim to encourage collaboration that can help advance projects in communities positioned for new investment.
About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development is the state’s primary agency focused on economic growth through job creation and community development. By attracting new corporate investment and supporting the growth of existing businesses, TNECD works to strengthen Tennessee’s competitive landscape while advancing innovation, quality of life and opportunity.
The department also supports economic prosperity for Tennesseans by providing grants to communities statewide, helping them become vibrant, business-friendly environments where companies can flourish, invest and thrive.
