Business

Opportunity zones could spur investments in distressed areas

CINCINNATI HERALD — Congressman Steve Chabot (R – 1st District) has been meeting with local community leaders and organizations this past week about opportunities for local development through a new funding mechanism, opportunity zones.

Published

7 years ago

March 26, 2019

Oakland Post

By Dan Yount

Congressman Steve Chabot (R – 1^st District) has been meeting with local community leaders and organizations this past week about opportunities for local development through a new funding mechanism, opportunity zones.

Enacted within the year-old Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), opportunity zones provide preferential tax treatment for certain investments made in designated localities with the goal of spurring economic development in distressed communities.

Senators Tim Scott (R-SC) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) were major proponents of opportunity zones as the tax debate unfolded. This provision also represents one of the most bipartisan pieces of the TCJA.

Map shows opportunity zones in Ohio. Provided

To become an opportunity zone, a locality had to be recommended to the governor of a state within a certain period, Chabot said. A locality was eligible if it met one of the following definitions: 1) a qualified low-income community using the same criteria as under the New Markets Tax Credit, or 2) a census tract that was contiguous with a New Markets Tax Credit community where the median family income of the tract did not exceed 125 percent of the contiguous New Markets Tax Credit locality. Only 5 percent of the total designated localities in any state can be selected from option number two.

Each state was limited to the number of Qualified Opportunity Zones that could be designated. Of the 1,280 eligible localities in Ohio, only 320 could be designated as an opportunity zone.

Chabot’ said his district – Ohio’s First Congressional District -has the third highest number of designated opportunity zones in Ohio with 28 (three tracts in the West End, along with tracts in Avondale, Bond Hill, Camp Washington, Corryville, South Cumminsville, Evanston, North and South Fairmount, Madisonville, parts of the Price Hill neighborhoods, Northside and Queensgate.)

Congressman Steve Chabot hosts an opportunity zone meeting in Lincoln Heights on March 19. Photo provided

There are over 8,700 total opportunity zones in the country. In total, there are approximately 35 million Americans living in these zones and they have an average poverty rate of 32 percent compared to the rest of the country with a 17 percent average poverty rate.

To spur economic investment in these designated zones, the TCJA created tax preferences for certain investments, Chabot said. First, a fund must be created for the purpose of investing in opportunity zone property. An opportunity zone property could consist of stock or partnership interest in a business located in a designated zone. Once a fund is established, there are a number of tax incentives, such as deferral of capital gains for reinvestments.

Congress and much of the nation are awaiting the next round of Treasury Department guidance, which is expected by the end of April. This new guidance should help clarify the types of property that are eligible as a qualified business property and the reporting requirements for divestments from a fund.

At a Lincoln Heights Roundtable hosted by Congressman Chabot Tuesday, attendees included community leaders and representatives from state and county agencies, development groups, financial institutions and small business organizations.

This article originally appeared in the Cincinnati Herald.

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The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

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Financial Wellness and Mental Health: Managing Money Stress in College 

While everyone’s financial situation is unique, several common sources of stress have the potential to strain your financial health. These include financial and economic uncertainty, existing debts, unexpected expenses, and mental or physical health changes. Financial stress may differ from situation to situation, but understanding the factors contributing to yours may help you begin to craft a plan for your unique circumstances.

Published

2 weeks ago

March 17, 2026

Oakland Post

Sponsored by JPMorganChase

As a college student, managing financial responsibilities can be stressful.

If you’ve found yourself staying up late thinking about your finances or just feeling anxious overall about your financial future, you’re not alone. In one survey, 78% of college students who reported financial stress had negative impacts on their mental health, and 59% considered dropping out. While finances can impact overall stress, taking steps to manage your finances can support your mental, emotional and physical well-being.

When it comes to money, the sources of stress may look different for each student, but identifying the underlying causes and setting goals accordingly may help you feel more confident about your financial future.

Consider these strategies to help improve your financial wellness and reduce stress.

Understand what causes financial stress

2. Determine your financial priorities

Start by reflecting on your financial priorities. For students this often includes paying for school or paying off student loans, studying abroad, saving for spring break, building an emergency fund, paying down credit card debt or buying a car. Name the milestones that are most important to you, and plan accordingly.

3. Create a plan and stick to it

While setting actionable goals starts you on the journey to better financial health, it’s essential to craft a plan to follow through. Identifying and committing to a savings plan may give you a greater sense of control over your finances, which may help reduce your stress. Creating and sticking to a budget allows you to better track where your money is going so you may spend less and save more.

4. Pay down debt

Many students have some form of debt and want to make progress toward reducing their debt obligations. One option is the debt avalanche method, which focuses on paying off your debt with the highest interest rate first, then moving on to the debt with the next-highest interest rate. Another is the debt snowball method, which builds momentum by paying off your smallest debt balance, and then working your way up to the largest amounts.

5. Build your financial resilience

Some financial stress may be inevitable, but building financial resilience may allow you to overcome obstacles more easily. The more you learn about managing your money, for instance, the more prepared you’ll feel if the unexpected happens. Growing your emergency savings also may increase resilience since you’ll be more financially prepared to cover unexpected expenses or pay your living expenses.

6. Seek help and support

Many colleges have resources to help students experiencing financial stress, like financial literacy courses or funds that provide some assistance for students in need. Talk to your admissions counselor or advisor about your concerns, and they can direct you to sources of support. Your school’s counseling center can also be a great resource for mental health assistance if you’re struggling with financial stress.

The bottom line

Financial stress can affect college students’ health and wellbeing, but it doesn’t have to derail your dreams. Setting smart financial goals and developing simple plans to achieve them may help ease your stress. Revisit and adjust your plan as needed to ensure it continues to work for you, and seek additional support on campus as needed to help keep you on track.

 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC