Digital Platform Addresses Opportunity Zone Deal-Readiness Gap

With the federal government officially opening the gates for a new wave of Opportunity Zone designations, the Milken Institute is working to ensure overlooked communities are not left behind. 

The US Department of the Treasury recently opened the nomination period for states, territories, and the District of Columbia to select the next round of Qualified Opportunity Zones (QOZs). These selections will lock in the tax-advantaged investment landscape starting January 1, 2027, bringing a fresh promise of jobs, economic growth, and local development. 

The biggest hurdle for many Opportunity Zone communities is not a lack of investor interest; it is a lack of deal readiness.

To bridge this gap, the Milken Institute is leveraging its Pathways to Capital portfolio of programs and urging community leaders, developers, and capital allocators to explore the 10,000 Communities program’s Community Infrastructure Center (CIC). The free online platform serves as a digital accelerator, helping prepare locally led projects for investment by offering free resources, readiness assessments, virtual peer-to-peer exchange, and matchmaking tools that connect users with technical assistance and capital providers. 

Breaking Barriers to Capital

Since its launch in 2022, the CIC has onboarded nearly 800 projects. The platform systematically dismantles traditional barriers to capital access through a high-touch, tech-enabled ecosystem: 

• Dedicated project development support: Every project sponsor on the platform participates in an intake process that identifies technical assistance providers with specialized expertise to advance the project, as well as opportunities to access project development capital.
• Built-in network: Local leaders are instantly connected with a peer community of aligned project sponsors, grantmakers, vendors, government agencies, and financial institutions. 
• Pipeline development: Capital allocators can search for projects located in QOZs and connect directly with project sponsors at no cost to either party. 

By providing this resource at no cost, the Milken Institute hopes to reduce the well-documented barriers to capital access for communities that are now targeted for investment. As the new 2027 designation cycle begins, the CIC aims to ensure that historically underinvested communities have shovel-ready projects. 

The Milken Institute is also developing a playbook for newly elected governors, to be released later this year. The playbook will highlight replicable models for economic growth, including recommendations for effectively leveraging Opportunity Zone designations.

To learn more about the Community Infrastructure Center, contact Sarah Ortner at [email protected].