There were 18 new Qualified Opportunity Zones designated across Pennsylvania’s 16th Congressional District and will begin in 2027.
U.S. Representative Mike Kelly said the U.S. Treasury Department and IRS made the new designations and that they cover all six counties in the district. He also pointed to the City of Erie’s Opportunity Zones in the downtown 16501 ZIP code, which he called a national model for the program.
Kelly said the Working Families Tax Cuts made the program permanent in 2025 and expanded it to rural communities. He said the law defines those communities as cities or towns with populations less than 50,000.
“Opportunity Zones have been an incredible success in communities across the country since they were first created in the 2017 Tax Cuts & Jobs Act. Now, thanks to the passage of the Working Families Tax Cuts last year, rural communities across our region will be able to benefit, as well,” Kelly said.
Kelly chairs the Ways & Means Subcommittee on Tax and has led Opportunity Zones legislation in Congress. Kelly said more than 6,500 communities across the United States received Qualified Opportunity Zone designations this year.
More about these Opportunity Zones can be found online below:
Erie County received federal approval to expand its Qualified Opportunity Zones map, adding nine new census tracts including areas in Erie, Wesleyville, Union City, and rural communities, valid from 2027 through 2036.