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Dionne Baux and MSA partner working in Bronzeville, Chicago.

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Three Main Street America Staff members standing in front of a mural in Marion, Iowa.

Marion, Iowa © Tasha Sams

About

We work in collaboration with thousands of local partners and grassroots leaders across the nation who share our commitment to advancing shared prosperity, creating resilient economies, and improving quality of life.

Overview Who We Are How We Work Partner Collaborations Our Supporters Our Team Job Opportunities Contact Us
Two community members in Emporia Kansas pose with a sign saying "I'm a Main Streeter"

Emporia, Kansas © Emporia Main Street

Our Network

Made up of small towns, mid-sized communities, and urban commercial districts, the thousands of organizations, individuals, volunteers, and local leaders that make up Main Street America™ represent the broad diversity that makes this country so unique.

Overview Coordinating Programs Main Street Communities Collective Impact Awards & Recognition Community Evaluation Framework Join the Movement
Dionne Baux and MSA partner working in Bronzeville, Chicago.

Chicago, Illinois © Main Street America

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Looking for strategies and tools to support you in your work? Delve into the Main Street Resource Center and explore a wide range of resources including our extensive Knowledge Hub, professional development opportunities, field service offerings, advocacy support, and more!

Overview Knowledge Hub Field Services Government Relations Main Street Now Conference Main Street America Institute Small Business Support Allied Member Services The Point Members Area
People riding e-scooters in Waterloo, Iowa

Waterloo, Iowa © Main Street Waterloo

The Latest

Your one-stop-shop for all the latest stories, news, events, and opportunities – including grants and funding programs – across Main Street.

Overview News & Stories Events & Opportunities Subscribe
Woman and girl at a festival booth in Kendall Whittier, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Kendall Whittier — Tulsa, Oklahoma © Kendall Whittier Main Street

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Join us in our work to advance shared prosperity, create strong economies, and improve quality of life in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts.

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July 12, 2019 | Mapping Where History and Opportunity Meet | By Anthony Veerkamp, Shaw Sprague, and Dan Watts |

Included in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, Opportunity Zones are perhaps the single largest new federal tax incentive in decades. Designed to spur private investment to revitalize distressed communities, Opportunity Zones have the potential to direct trillions of dollars in deferred capital gains taxes to transform 8,700 distressed census tracts—a prospect at once thrilling and alarming to preservationists and community activists.

The Tax Cut and Jobs Act that established Opportunity Zones did not detail exactly how the incentive would work in practice and the Department of Treasury has subsequently issued two sets of regulations to address questions about how the incentive is implemented. A year and a half after the creation of the incentive, it appears Opportunity Zones have yet to catalyze the amount of reinvestment originally envisioned as investors and financial markets have sought more clarity about how the incentive would work.  

To better understand the potential impact of Opportunity Zone investments on historic properties and preservation initiatives, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has created an interactive mapping application to highlight the intersection between National Register–listed historic districts, National Main Street Center main street districts, HTC projects, and the 8,700 Qualified Opportunity Zones (QOZs). The mapping application is designed to help the preservation community understand where historic buildings might benefit from responsible Opportunity Fund investments or might be at risk of demolition or inappropriate incentivized redevelopment.

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This article was originally published on the Preservation Leadership Forum’s blog.


Anthony Veerkamp was the former director of policy development for the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Research & Policy Lab. Dan Watts is the senior GIS project manager, and Shaw Sprague is the senior director of government relations.