State governors may nominate up to 25% of their respective state’s eligible census tracts every ten years to become Opportunity Zones. On September 25, 2026, Indiana nominated 126 of its 501 eligible census tracts. The U.S. Department of the Treasury must certify the nominated tracts before their designation as Opportunity Zones takes effect on January 1, 2027. These Opportunity Zones will remain in effect through 2036.

The Indiana Office of Commerce, through the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, led the process of selecting Indiana’s Opportunity Zone nominations on behalf of Governor Braun. The Governor’s Office and other state agencies provided guidance and input during the selection process, including the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, the Office of Community and Rural Affairs, and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. The process was supported by research, data analysis, expert consultants, and external input. Indiana sought to align Opportunity Zone designations with broader state and regional priorities related to economic development, housing, entrepreneurship, redevelopment, quality of place, and rural competitiveness.

Stakeholder input was critical to identifying the strongest possible census tracts for OZ designation. From June 3 through July 17, 2026, Indiana opened an online public portal for OZ recommendations. During this public input period, 88 unique individuals and organizations—including READI regions, local governments, economic development organizations, investors, developers, community organizations, and other stakeholders— submitted 350 eligible tract recommendations covering 234 unique eligible census tracts. This input played an important role in informing the State’s selections.