Century area designated as federal Opportunity Zone for investment

The U.S. Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service have named the census tract covering Century and surrounding North Escambia communities—including Byrneville and Bluff Springs—as a federal Opportunity Zone under the new "OZ 2.0" program.

Escambia County Census Tract 40 received the designation as part of a nationwide announcement on November 5 that created 6,576 Qualified Opportunity Zones across the country. The program aims to encourage private investment in economically distressed communities through tax incentives.

Opportunity Zone designations can attract capital investment to targeted areas by allowing investors tax benefits on gains reinvested in qualifying businesses and real estate projects within those zones. The Century-area designation opens the door for developers and entrepreneurs to pursue projects that might otherwise face financing challenges.