Carbondale Alerts

Three Carbondale Census Tracts Approved for Updated Federal Opportunity Zone Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CARBONDALE -

The City of Carbondale is pleased to announce that three census tracts have received federal approval under the updated Opportunity Zones 2.0 program. The designations take effect January 1, 2027, and include areas targeted for commercial redevelopment, downtown revitalization, industrial development, and housing investment.

Opportunity Zones are not new to Carbondale. The City has had federally designated Opportunity Zones since 2018. Congress updated the program in 2025, making it permanent, establishing new designations every ten years, and providing additional tax incentives for qualifying rural investments.

As part of the State's nomination process, the City submitted four eligible census tracts for consideration. Three of the City's highest-priority tracts received approval:

  • Tract 17077011200 – University Mall and Retail Corridor: Includes University Mall and surrounding commercial properties with significant redevelopment potential.
  • Tract 17077010800 – Industrial Development and Downtown: Includes portions of downtown and the site of a proposed industrial park.
  • Tract 17077011100 – Downtown Carbondale: Includes areas where ongoing investments support building rehabilitation, business development, and neighborhood revitalization.

Opportunity Zones encourage private investment by offering federal tax benefits to investors who make qualifying long-term investments. All of the tracts also qualify for enhanced rural investment incentives.

This program offers an additional incentive for private investment that may complement existing economic development tools, including Tax Increment Financing (TIF), Enterprise Zone incentives, and other redevelopment programs.

The City's nominations focused on areas with existing infrastructure, redevelopment opportunities, and established economic development priorities. The designations may help attract additional private investment to support commercial redevelopment, housing improvements, job creation, and long-term economic growth.

The new designations take effect January 1, 2027, and remain in place through December 31, 2036. The original Opportunity Zone designations remain in effect through December 31, 2028, under the existing program rules.

For additional information about the Opportunity Zones program, visit the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity at https://dceo.illinois.gov/oppzn.html.

For further information email Steven Mitchell, Economic Development Director, or call at 618-457-3286.

For media requests email Eva Fisher, Public Relations Officer, or call at 618-713-0711. 





“Carbondale prides itself on providing its visitors, students, businesses and residents with a unique mix of edge and ease. It’s a cultural town, yet free of pretense, embracing the great outdoors as readily as urban sophistication. Here, we are open to new ideas, experiences and cultures, so you are encouraged to both express yourself and be yourself, in all ways. That’s Carbondale…All Ways Open…for family, fun, business, new ideas and a bright tomorrow.”
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