October 8, 2026
3:00–4:00 pm ET
Participation is free for this Connecting Communities webinar, but pre-registration is required.
Opportunity Zones (OZs) open the door to billions of dollars in potential investment for community‑driven projects — but dollars don’t automatically find their way into neighborhoods. Communities need trusted, well-prepared local partners who can leverage, facilitate, and channel capital into projects that truly benefit existing residents.
With Opportunity Zones 2.0 on the horizon, many communities are wondering:
What’s new this time?
How has the program evolved?
What will it take to ensure that the next wave of incentives leads to real, equitable impact on the ground?
In this Connecting Communities session, we’ll start by grounding everyone in the basics of Opportunity Zones — what they are, what’s changing, and why those shifts matter. Then, you’ll hear from practitioners around the country who are already doing this work, from small towns to major metros. They’ll share considerations for preparing project pipelines, forming partnerships, and building the local capacity needed to make the most of OZ 2.0.
We’ll also dig into practical questions like:
When does it make sense to launch your own Qualified Opportunity Fund, work with established social‑impact investors, or simply act as a matchmaker connecting investors with ready projects?
What are the capabilities, relationships, and resources needed to effectively channel OZ capital into your community?
How can new collaborative efforts determine the right role for different potential partners based on your community context?
Whether you're from a community development corporation, local government, a nonprofit, or a community foundation, this session will offer concrete examples and actionable guidance for building the infrastructure needed to turn Opportunity Zone potential into tangible, equitable community impact.
Related resources:
Speakers
Alex Flachsbart - President and CEO - Opportunity Alabama
Mauri Ingram - President and CEO - Whatcom Community Foundation
Daffney Moore - Former Chief Opportunity Zone Officer
Jason Vargo - Senior Researcher - Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
Sergio Galeano - Community & Economic Development Adviser - Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta - Moderator
Not able to join ? Be sure to register to receive the video, audio recording, transcript, and related materials following the program.
Real people. Real research. Real conversations.
The Federal Reserve's Connecting Communities webinar series provides timely information on community and economic development issues. For past events and more information about the series, visit Fed Communities.
Update your subscription preferences at any time to stay abreast of community development work and upcoming events from the Federal Reserve.
For questions about the program, please contact
Fed Communities, 1455 E 6th St, Cleveland, Ohio 44114, United States