Turning Opportunity Zones into Innovation Zones
Over 8,760 places for launching innovations, businesses and jobs!
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Transforming Baltimore’s Opportunity Zones
October 7, 2020 1:30 - 3:30 PM (ET)
About this Event
Join us online to learn how Opportunity Zones are transforming neighborhoods in Baltimore. Despite the COVID 19 crisis entrepreneurs and investors are moving forward with revitalization projects and innovative public-private partnerships. This live ZOOM event will highlight the people who are leading OZ initiatives in Baltimore. Panelists will share strategies, insights, market information. and the impact their projects are having in low-income neighborhoods.
PANEL ONE: The Big OZ Picture in Baltimore
Ben Seigel, Baltimore Opportunity Zone Coordinator, Baltimore Development Corporation
Frank Dickson, Director, Strategic Initiatives, Maryland Department of Housing & Community Development
Michele Whelley, President & CEO, Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore
Brian Darmody, CEO, Association of University Research Parks (AURP)
PANEL TWO: Project Initiatives Transforming OZ Neighborhoods
David Bramble, Managing Partner, MCB Real Estate
Bill Struever, Cross Street Partners, Penn Station Project
Leonard Mills, CEO, Verte Opportunity Fund
Brendan Schreiber. Schreiber Brothers, North Avenue Workforce Housing
Moderators:
Egils Milbergs, CEO, Center for Accelerating Innovation
Jimmy Atkinson, Founder, Opportunity Db
The event will be useful to civic leaders, Opportunity Zone fund managers, business associations, real estate developers, investors, tax specialists, legal experts, entrepreneurs, university incubators/accelerators, small businesses, workforce development organizations, investment bankers, and federal, state and local government officials. The OZ Turning Points Series is showcasing projects that align with delivering positive community impact.
Created in 2017 as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the Opportunity Zones program provides federal tax incentives for investment in low-income communities. Over 8,700 Opportunity zones have been designated by the US Treasury Department across the nation. Of the 149 census tracts in Maryland that the U.S. Department of Treasury has identified as Opportunity Zones, 42 are in Baltimore City.
Our Mission
is to foster economic revitalization, entrepreneurship, innovation and job creation in Opportunity Zones (OZs) through world changing technologies.
The OZ Accelerator is an online resource for community stakeholders, entrepreneurs, businesses, universities, foundations, non-profits, public agencies and investors engaged with the OZ innovation ecosystem.
An Opportunity Zone is an economically distressed community where private investments are eligible for reductions and elimination in capital gain taxes. Opportunity Zones were created under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. There are more than 8,760 designated Qualified Opportunity Zones located in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and territories.
Opportunity Zone revitalization is a collaboration around shared goals.
Changing the world is possible. We’ve done it before.
The OZ marketplace is one of the toughest challenges the nation has faced. We are confident, however, that through innovation and entrepreneurship we can deliver great solutions with meaningful job opportunities and community impact.
Let’s meet up to share ideas that transform people’s lives in Opportunity Zones!
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