U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, today released the following statement after the U.S. Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) approved the State of Michigan’s application for Opportunity Zones. The recently signed into law Tax Cuts & Jobs Act, of which Upton was a conferee, established Opportunity Zones – areas eligible for tax benefits aimed at spurring private investment, economic growth, and jobs in distressed communities. Learn more about tax reform here and more about Opportunity Zones here.

“These Opportunity Zones have great potential to allow entrepreneurs and businesses here in Southwest Michigan to take advantage of a wider array of economic development tools,” said Upton. “We’ve seen historic investment in our local businesses, tax cuts for the middle-class, and more money in worker paychecks as a result of tax reform. Now, we’re seeing a greater range of possibilities to build more businesses and create more local jobs for and by residents of Southwest Michigan and throughout our great state.”

Opportunity Zones in Michigan’s Sixth Congressional district can be found here or below.

Allegan County

Fillmore township

Holland City

Berrien County

Benton charter township

Benton Harbor city

Niles city

Niles township

Sodus township

Watervliet city

Watervliet township

Cass County

Dowagiac city

Cassopolis village

Jefferson township

LaGrange township

Kalamazoo County

Kalamazoo city

Portage city

St. Joseph County

Constantine township

Fabius township

Florence township

Sherman township

Sturgis city

Sturgis township

Three Rivers city

Van Buren County

Hartford township

Lawrence township