TSU hosts Opportunity Zone training session

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University’s College of Business partnered with the state Department of Economic and Community Development on Wednesday to educate local stakeholders on the benefit of Opportunity Zones.

Mayor David Briley welcomed prospective investors to the Opportunity Zone training session in the Avon Williams Campus auditorium and encouraged them to take advantage of the legislation, particularly in Nashville.

The Qualified Opportunity Zone community development benefit was created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed last year. The federal benefit is designed to encourage long-term investment in low-income communities through Qualified Opportunity Funds.

There are 176 tracts in Tennessee that are approved Opportunity Zones. Twenty of the zones are in Nashville, and TSU’s main campus is located in one of them.

“This Opportunity Fund concept gives us another vehicle to attract investors, so that we can do targeted developments in our communities,” said Isaac Addae, an assistant professor in TSU’s College of Business.

Isaac Addae, assistant professor in TSU's College of Business, thanks Mayor Briley for attending session. (Photo by Michael McLendon, TSU Media Relations)

Investors choosing to re-invest their capital gains into opportunity funds can earn three types of federal capital gains tax benefits: temporary deferral, a step-up in basis, and permanent exclusion on capital gains accrued after the initial investment. Additionally, Opportunity Zone investments can be paired with almost any federal, state or local incentive. Qualifying investments include multifamily housing, industrial development, brownfield redevelopment, retail development, operating businesses and a variety of other investments.

According to state officials, the goal of the training session (one of several across the state this month) is to educate stakeholders on how Opportunity Zones can be implemented throughout the state. Each session pairs potential investors with projects, reviews various use case scenarios and provides time for open discussion.

Jack Armstrong, a commercial real estate broker, attended the session at TSU and said it was beneficial.

“It’s a good opportunity for us brokers and people in the real estate world to get a better understanding of what’s out there and how we can better service our clients,” said Armstrong.

To learn more about Opportunity Zones, visit https://www.tn.gov/ecd/opportunity-zones.html

To learn more about TSU’s College of Business, visit http://www.tnstate.edu/business/.

Department of Media Relations

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