Opportunity Zones
Opportunity Zones 2.0 in Wyoming
Wyoming has 20 new Opportunity Zones. The U.S. Treasury approved the state’s nominations on October 29, 2026, designating census tracts in nine counties, 16 of them rural. The new zones take effect January 1, 2027, and last 10 years.
Opportunity Zones are a federal tax incentive that encourages long-term private investment in designated communities. Investors who put capital gains into a qualified opportunity fund can defer and reduce their taxes, and the longer they hold the investment, the larger the benefit. The Wyoming Business Council helps communities, project sponsors and investors use the program to support housing, business growth, redevelopment and long-term local investment.
Recordings and materials from WBC’s 2026 webinars on how Wyoming’s new zones were chosen and how Opportunity Zone deals are put together.
Opportunity Zones 2.0 Map
The map below shows Wyoming’s 20 Opportunity Zones under OZ 2.0. The U.S. Treasury approved the Governor’s nominations on October 29, 2026, and the new zones take effect January 1, 2027, for 10 years. Hover over a zone for its census tract, county, community, rural status and population. Hover over a circled town to see the zones inside it.
Wyoming’s current OZ 1.0 zones stay in place until they expire, so the two sets overlap for a time. Investments already made in OZ 1.0 zones keep their existing tax treatment.
Wyoming's Opportunity Zones
Find Your Regional Director for Help Navigating Opportunity Zones
Why Invest In An Opportunity Zone?
Any taxpayer can defer capital gains taxes by reinvesting those gains in a qualified opportunity fund.
A qualified opportunity fund is any investment vehicle that holds at least 90 percent of its assets in qualified opportunity zone investments, including:
- Property (e.g. real estate, equipment, infrastructure) within an opportunity zone
- Stock or equity in a trade or business whose owned or leased property is in a qualified opportunity zone
Through a series of basis increases, capital gains taxes are decreased through time as the investment is held in the fund. If the investment is held in a qualified opportunity fund for 10 years, the basis of the investment is equal to the fair market value of the investment.
- Directory of Opportunity Zone Funds
- Opportunity Zone Fact Sheet
- Federal Opportunity Zone page
- IRS Form 8996
Opportunity Zones: A Diverse Portfolio of Opportunities
The tracts nominated in Wyoming offer tremendous opportunities for investors and communities.
A range of investment opportunities
- Businesses – startups, expansion, and recruitment
- Real estate
- Infrastructure
- Research
Geographic diversity
- Cities, towns, and rural areas
- Statewide distribution
How does the federal OZ incentive work?
Investors can reinvest eligible capital gains into a Qualified Opportunity Fund that invests in designated Opportunity Zones. The federal incentive is built around long-term investment, including deferral of the original gain and potential exclusion of new gains if the investment is held long enough.
What is changing in OZ 2.0?
OZ 2.0 creates a new 10-year designation cycle, tightens tract eligibility, eliminates contiguous tract nominations, adds stronger reporting, and creates enhanced incentives for some rural investments.
What makes a project a good fit for OZ investment?
The strongest OZ projects usually combine long-term investment potential with real local readiness. Designation alone is not enough. Good fits often include housing, redevelopment, business expansion, and projects with clear site conditions, partners, and a path to execution.
How is OZ different from other community development tools?
Opportunity Zones are a federal tax incentive, not a grant. They are designed to attract private capital into designated areas, which means they often work best when combined with other development tools, local planning, and project support.