Montana — OZ 2.0 Resource

58

Total eligible tracts

37

Rural eligible

15

Max designations (25%)

1

Days to federal window

Nomination process

The lead agency has been identified, but no public process has been published yet. Contact information is below. See how to advocate for what to do while the process develops.

As of May 7, 2026, Montana’s Department of Commerce Community Development Division has not published an OZ 2.0 nomination process, community input form, or scoring criteria; the agency’s OZ page addresses OZ 1.0 only. Call (406) 841-2700 today, ask for the Community Development Division, and introduce your jurisdiction’s eligible tracts under Rev. Proc. 2026-14 — request to be notified when the division publishes OZ 2.0 guidance or opens a community nomination process. Montana is subject to a 25-tract statutory minimum for designations (the division has not confirmed its selection approach as of this date), so monitor commerce.mt.gov and legislative interim committee agendas for any announcement before the July 1, 2026 federal nomination window.

Eligible tracts

Loading 58 eligible tracts…

View on EIG map → IRS appendix (XLSX) Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-14 · EIG DCI 2023 · FFIEC CRA 2025 · Urban Institute 2026

County	Eligible tracts
Yellowstone County	8
Missoula County	6
Big Horn County	4
Cascade County	4
Flathead County	4
Glacier County	4
Gallatin County	3
Hill County	3
Lincoln County	3
Blaine County	2

Data context

9

Eligible tracts in EIG DCI top distress quintile

The EIG Distressed Communities Index (2019–2023) is referenced in many state scoring rubrics. Quintile 1 = most distressed. See whether OZ 1.0 reached the most distressed places →

3

Counties with eligible tracts designated USDA persistent poverty

Persistent poverty = 20%+ poverty rate in every census 1980–2010. Source: USDA ERS County Typology Codes (2015 edition). Relevant for USDA RD program eligibility and QROF rural bonus. See QROF rural bonus mechanics →

20

Prior NMTC investments in eligible OZ tracts

CDFI Fund NMTC Public Data Release (2024). Indicates prior CDFI capital deployment track record in these tracts. See how NMTC and OZ stack →

42

Eligible tracts with CRA designation (LMI or distressed/underserved)

Banks earn CRA credit for investing in low- or moderate-income tracts (Track 1), and in non-metropolitan middle-income tracts officially designated distressed or underserved by FFIEC (Track 2). When an OZ project sits in a CRA-eligible tract, bank capital can satisfy CRA obligations while generating OZ tax benefits. How CRA and OZ interact →

Cities: Billings, Great Falls, Hays, Missoula, Havre and 35 more

ZIP codes: 59101, 59401, 59405, 59501, 59527 and 48 more

See all 40 cities and 53 ZIP codes

All cities:

Billings, Great Falls, Hays, Missoula, Havre, Wolf Point, Bozeman, Busby, Poplar, Lonepine, Box Elder, Pablo, Plains, Polson, Reserve, Lewistown, Rexford, Ronan, Ryegate, Shawmut, Troy, Two Dot, Libby, Judith Gap, Butte, Hot Springs, Homestead, Brockton, Harlowton, Harlem, Hardin, Browning, Garryowen, Flaxville, Eureka, Dodson, Dixon, Crow Agency, Chinook, Arlee

All ZIP codes:

59101, 59401, 59405, 59501, 59527, 59715, 59718, 59102, 59201, 59859, 59855, 59930, 59701, 59703, 59923, 59717, 59917, 59864, 59860, 59801, 59802, 59804, 59807, 59821, 59524, 59831, 59845, 59848, 59526, 59016, 59523, 59111, 59031, 59034, 59036, 59074, 59078, 59085, 59104, 59105, 59107, 59213, 59521, 59222, 59242, 59255, 59258, 59403, 59417, 59453, 59457, 59022, 59935

Look up a specific tract (FFIEC) → Source: FFIEC Census Flat File 2026, joined to IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-14 eligible tracts.

8

Eligible tracts in top investability quintile (Urban Institute model)

The Urban Institute investability model scores OZ-eligible tracts by predicted likelihood of attracting private capital, based on OZ 1.0 investment patterns. Quintile 1 = highest predicted investability among scored tracts. Not all tracts are scored — coverage reflects tracts with sufficient OZ 1.0 data.

How to influence the nomination

No public process has been announced for Montana yet. See how to advocate for steps to engage the governor's office and build a coalition now, and off-list nominations for strategies available when a state hasn't opened a formal process. While waiting, the Accelerator for America OZ Designation Toolkit provides frameworks you can prepare in advance.

Who to contact

Montana Dept. of Commerce, Community Development Division

https://commerce.mt.gov/Infrastructure-Planning/Resources/Opportunity-Zones/

(406) 841-2700

Certified CDFIs

11 certified CDFIs headquartered in Montana. CDFI Fund certified list →

USDA Rural Development

USDA RD Montana State Office →

RCAP Regional Partner

Midwest Assistance Program (MAP) →

Rural LISC

Rural LISC →

Native / tribal

No formal tribal consultation process has been published for Montana's OZ 2.0 nomination. If your jurisdiction contains or is adjacent to tribal land, contact the relevant Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO) or tribal government directly before submitting a nomination.