Arlington Selected for Five New Opportunity Zone Nominations

Published on September 10, 2026

By Office of Communication

Governor Greg Abbott nominated five eligible tracts in Arlington as part of the federal Opportunity Zone program on Sept. 4, 2026. The five tracts were chosen from the City’s eight submitted potential opportunity zones – five of 20 submitted tracts in Tarrant County.

“These tracts are very attractive to future investors with their proximity to major thoroughfares and highways, as well as availability of commercial properties that could benefit from these types of Federal income tax incentives,” said Marty Wieder, executive director of the Arlington Economic Development Corporation.

“The Opportunity Zone designation gives us an important tool to accelerate investment while enhancing our competitiveness for transformational redevelopment.”

The Opportunity Zone program offers incentives through capital gains tax abatement from the federal government for companies who invest eligible capital into qualified opportunity zone assets. Gov. Abbott nominated 605 census tracts in 105 Texas counties as potential opportunity zones across the state’s 6,896 total tracts. Official certification by the U.S. Department of Treasury is expected by Nov. 28, 2026.

“We’re thrilled that Governor Abbott has recommended over half of our submitted census tracts as potential opportunity zones. These areas will help us maintain the momentum of growing our economy through job creation, redevelopment and business expansion,” said Arlington Mayor Jim Ross. 

Arlington’s nominated opportunity zones include two tracts near Collins and I-30, two in Downtown and one in the International Corridor near New York Avenue, Arkansas Lane and SH-360.

The Opportunity Zone program was originally established in 2017, and was updated and made permanent through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in 2025. The current iteration of the program, Opportunity Zone 2.0, encourages long-term private investment while strengthening accountability with refined eligibility criteria.

These five potential opportunity zones are especially significant for the City, as Arlington was only selected for one tract in the 2017 program.  This East Arlington tract, near Pioneer Parkway and Collins Street, will remain eligible through Dec. 31, 2028.

Learn more about Opportunity Zone 2.0.