When President Trump signed Republicans’ 2017 tax legislation into law, one section in it stood out for its ambitious goal: directing private investment dollars to left-behind communities. The law provides a tax incentive for long-term investment in economically disadvantaged communities that were designated by governors as so-called opportunity zones, subject to federal standards based on the communities’ median income and official poverty rate.

It was a worthy attempt at bolstering development in areas needing greater investment to stimulate the local economy. As The Times reported in 2018, Senator Tim Scott, a South Carolina Republican who championed the provision, explained that he was motivated by his belief that “there’s untapped potential in every state in the nation.”

The pro

See Full Page