North Carolina
Last checked 2026-06-16
807
Total eligible tracts
431
Rural eligible
202
Max designations (25%)
1
Days to federal window
Nomination process
Community input window closed 2026-06-21. The state is now in internal review.
Eligible tracts
Loading 807 eligible tracts…
| County | Eligible tracts |
|---|---|
| Mecklenburg County | 74 |
| Guilford County | 45 |
| Wake County | 40 |
| Gaston County | 33 |
| Cumberland County | 31 |
| Robeson County | 31 |
| Forsyth County | 27 |
| Durham County | 23 |
| Johnston County | 21 |
| Pitt County | 18 |
Data context
104
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 →
10
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 →
89
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 →
597
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: Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Winston Salem, Gastonia and 283 more
ZIP codes: 28052, 28205, 27610, 27105, 28212 and 445 more
See all 288 cities and 450 ZIP codes
All cities:
Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Winston Salem, Gastonia, Durham, Fayetteville, Wilmington, High Point, Lumberton, Salisbury, Statesville, Red Springs, Louisburg, Maxton, Pembroke, Selma, Lexington, Greenville, Kannapolis, Smithfield, Burlington, Concord, Kinston, Wilson, Benson, Kings Mountain, Laurinburg, Henderson, Spring Hope, Garner, Roanoke Rapids, Four Oaks, Asheville, Goldsboro, Sanford, Whiteville, Rocky Mount, Dunn, Dallas, Fairmont, Enfield, Forest City, Fort Bragg, Franklinton, Monroe, Jacksonville, Clayton, Shallotte, Asheboro, Rowland, Siler City, Spindale, China Grove, Belmont, Supply, Bessemer City, Warrenton, Wadesboro, Shannon, Rockingham, Garysburg, Staley, Littleton, Castalia, Lincolnton, Hamlet, Laurel Hill, Whitakers, Hendersonville, Windsor, Kenly, Morganton, Shelby, Zebulon, Roxboro, Chadbourn, Rutherfordton, Mount Holly, Elizabethtown, Rich Square, Parkton, Chapel Hill, Randleman, Raeford, Warsaw, Lenoir, Jackson, Kittrell, Reidsville, Lansing, Williamston, Princeton, Rose Hill, Robbins, Wingate, Lilesville, Scotland Neck, Polkton, Morven, Plymouth, Lumber Bridge, Turkey, Andrews, Teachey, Madison, Pineville, Pine Level, Spring Lake, Morehead City, Norlina, Murphy, Mount Airy, Saint Pauls, Ahoskie, Macon, Eagle Springs, Flat Rock, Candler, Candor, Carrboro, Carthage, Cary, Bladenboro, Castle Hayne, Biscoe, Graham, Grifton, Cherryville, Eden, Halifax, Franklinville, Ash, Hollister, Hope Mills, Aulander, Cleveland, Ayden, Hickory, Como, Caroleen, Columbus, Snow Hill, Rockwell, Sparta, Camp Lejeune, Calabash, Bunn, Brunswick, Conover, Seven Springs, Clarendon, Seaboard, Chinquapin, Scottville, Cedar Falls, Sandy Ridge, Saluda, Cerro Gordo, Stanley, Roper, Clarkton, Rosman, Rural Hall, Roxobel, Cherry Point, Tabor City, Star, Bear Creek, Warrensville, Beulaville, Bennett, Weldon, Wendell, Westfield, Belhaven, Wilkesboro, Wallace, Balsam Grove, Willow Spring, Aurora, Angier, Woodland, Woodleaf, Yadkinville, Walnut Cove, Wagram, Brevard, Boonville, Stoneville, Sunset Beach, Bostic, Richlands, Tar Heel, Tarawa Terrace, Tarboro, Thomasville, Vaughan, Toast, Topton, Trinity, Troy, Tryon, Turnersburg, Union Grove, Riegelwood, Jackson Springs, Richfield, Midway Park, Granite Falls, Goldston, Godwin, Magnolia, Maiden, Marietta, Marion, Mars Hill, Marshall, Marshville, Marston, Gibson, Mayodan, Mc Farlan, Mcas New River, Merry Hill, Micro, Grassy Creek, Longwood, Linwood, Haw River, Jefferson, Hudson, Kelford, Hobgood, Highfalls, Lake Toxaway, Lake Waccamaw, Laurel Springs, Grover, Havelock, Leasburg, Leicester, Leland, Harmony, Lewiston Woodville, Hamptonville, Middlesex, Mill Spring, Council, Millers Creek, Peachland, Edenton, Pikeville, Pilot Mountain, Pine Hall, East Flat Rock, Pinnacle, Pleasant Hill, Dudley, Dublin, Proctorville, Dover, Danbury, Hurdle Mills, Crumpler, Creswell, Cove City, Edward, Orrum, Olin, Murfreesboro, Gaston, Mooresboro, Mooresville, Faison, Elm City, Ellerbe, Mount Olive, Ellenboro, Ocean Isle Beach, Nakina, Nashville, New Bern, Newton, Newton Grove, Elizabeth City, North Wilkesboro, Ramseur
All ZIP codes:
28052, 28205, 27610, 27105, 28212, 27701, 28215, 27260, 28358, 28227, 27549, 28377, 28364, 28360, 27405, 28213, 28216, 27834, 28372, 27576, 28208, 28401, 27707, 27704, 28677, 27101, 27703, 28144, 27406, 27893, 27292, 28352, 28306, 27407, 28269, 28083, 28086, 27606, 27504, 27577, 27537, 28147, 27262, 28054, 27107, 28403, 27217, 28501, 27705, 28146, 28217, 28206, 27401, 28472, 27882, 27524, 27529, 27530, 27870, 28301, 28025, 28405, 27603, 28110, 28625, 28462, 28012, 27604, 28016, 27106, 27601, 27589, 27536, 28023, 27520, 28043, 27525, 28160, 28034, 28303, 28027, 28383, 28470, 28056, 27203, 27330, 28340, 27823, 27344, 28334, 27403, 28307, 28655, 27295, 27542, 27616, 28379, 28386, 28540, 27263, 28139, 27850, 28120, 27597, 27831, 27573, 27574, 27317, 28546, 27869, 28371, 28092, 28351, 28304, 28806, 27816, 27127, 28262, 28431, 27983, 27801, 27891, 28310, 28210, 27355, 28337, 28345, 28792, 27534, 28170, 27892, 27858, 28901, 28081, 27874, 28731, 27962, 28715, 27910, 27013, 28687, 28021, 28150, 28645, 28327, 28458, 28273, 28429, 28420, 28311, 28320, 28348, 28214, 28412, 28357, 28398, 28393, 28376, 28390, 27844, 28464, 28643, 28135, 28602, 28091, 28112, 28557, 28119, 28134, 28530, 28211, 28513, 28384, 28152, 28174, 28204, 28209, 27845, 28906, 27516, 27569, 27563, 27103, 27615, 27030, 27568, 27242, 27229, 27253, 27209, 27803, 27499, 27104, 27713, 27609, 27805, 27248, 27025, 27288, 27332, 27511, 27265, 27551, 27839, 27325, 27320, 27544, 27514, 27510, 28463, 27116, 28459, 28504, 27117, 28466, 28456, 27115, 28521, 28467, 28468, 28469, 28523, 27110, 28518, 27102, 28455, 27843, 28453, 28452, 28365, 28366, 28369, 27281, 27268, 28375, 27264, 27261, 27259, 27258, 27252, 28392, 28396, 27230, 28409, 28410, 27208, 27207, 28424, 27205, 28430, 28526, 28432, 28433, 28434, 28450, 28451, 27199, 28543, 27055, 28747, 28672, 28675, 27042, 27041, 28688, 28689, 28693, 28697, 28708, 28712, 28722, 28726, 27027, 28739, 28748, 28532, 28752, 28753, 28754, 28756, 28772, 28773, 28781, 28782, 28801, 28802, 28803, 27020, 28813, 27016, 28660, 28659, 28658, 27043, 28533, 27054, 28542, 28362, 28544, 28545, 27053, 27052, 28560, 28562, 28574, 28578, 28580, 28601, 27049, 28613, 28617, 27048, 28630, 28631, 28633, 28634, 28638, 28640, 27046, 28644, 27045, 28650, 28651, 28363, 28344, 27291, 28082, 28019, 27712, 27708, 27697, 28026, 27690, 27661, 28040, 27658, 27636, 27620, 28073, 27613, 27607, 27555, 27599, 27592, 28093, 28102, 28103, 27591, 27586, 28114, 28115, 28117, 28133, 27557, 28137, 28018, 27715, 27802, 27970, 27847, 27849, 27835, 27855, 27856, 27833, 27863, 27866, 27832, 27822, 27872, 27821, 27876, 27818, 27886, 27890, 27810, 27806, 27894, 27897, 27906, 27907, 27909, 27804, 27928, 27932, 27957, 28138, 28145, 28359, 28314, 27417, 27416, 28297, 27415, 28302, 27411, 27410, 28305, 27409, 27408, 27402, 27371, 28312, 27370, 27541, 27360, 28332, 28333, 27356, 28338, 27331, 28341, 28343, 27316, 27299, 28353, 27294, 27293, 27419, 28256, 28237, 28236, 27533, 27528, 27527, 28164, 27519, 28202, 28203, 27513, 27512, 27508, 27501, 27498, 27495, 27435, 27429, 27425, 28221, 28222, 28226, 27420, 28229, 28230, 28231, 28232, 28233, 28234, 28235, 27011
Look up a specific tract (FFIEC) → Source: FFIEC Census Flat File 2026, joined to IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-14 eligible tracts.
191
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
The state submission window closed 2026-06-21. North Carolina is in internal review. Monitor the lead agency's page for draft recommendations. The Accelerator for America OZ Designation Toolkit remains useful for preparing documentation that may inform the state's internal review.
Who to contact
North Carolina Department of Commerce
https://www.commerce.nc.gov/data-tools-reports/opportunity-zones-north-carolina(919) 814-4600
Certified CDFIs
25 certified CDFIs headquartered in North Carolina. CDFI Fund certified list →
USDA Rural Development
USDA RD North Carolina State Office →RCAP Regional Partner
Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project (SERCAP) →Rural LISC
Rural LISC →Native / tribal
North Carolina is home to two distinct tribal communities with eligible-tract interests. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) is a federally recognized tribe with a reservation in Jackson and Swain counties in western North Carolina; EBCI has a Tribal Historic Preservation Office (ebci-nsn.gov/thpo) and should be consulted for nominations in or adjacent to Jackson and Swain counties. The Lumbee Tribe is the largest Native American tribe east of the Mississippi River (approximately 55,000 members), is state-recognized, and is centered in Robeson County — which has 31 eligible tracts and appears in the top-10 county table. Robeson County is not federally recognized, so no formal THPO consultation is legally required; however, the Lumbee Tribal Administration (lumbeetribe.com) has active community development interests in Robeson County and should be engaged directly for nominations in that county. NC Commerce has not published a tribal consultation protocol for the OZ 2.0 process.
Eligible tract counts: IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-14 (April 6, 2026). Rural designation: Notice 2025-50, Section 4.01. Status tier last verified 2026-06-16. Full methodology.