Wharton Club Of DC

Can Opportunity Zones Recover from the COVID-19 Crisis?

Please join Senator Tim Scott and our Congressional Policy Roundtable online on August 5 at 1:30 -3:00 PM (EDT). Opportunity Zones (OZs) have been adversely and disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.

• Planning for OZ projects and investment of OZ funds now face substantial headwinds. Participants will gain insight into how OZs can accelerate and amplify the national economic recovery process.

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OPENING REMARKS

• Senator Tim Scott

Senator serving South Carolina

Co-author Opportunity Zone legislation

• PANELISTS

• Jimmy Atkinson (moderator)

Founder, Opportunity Db

• Ashley Bell

SBA Region IV Administrator

Entrepreneurship Policy Advisor 

White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council

• Emily Lavery

Legislative Assistant

Office of Senator Tim Scott

Finance Committee (tax)

• Dustin Lester

Vice President of Consulting

Community Insights, Emsi

• Brett Theodos (TBC)

Senior Fellow, The Urban Institute

• Egils Milbergs

Co-founder, OZ Accelerator

CEO, Center for Accelerating Innovation

• Among the topics to be addressed:

  • What has been the impact of COVID-19 on OZ projects, investors, and funding?

  • What new opportunities for investment generated by the COVID crisis?

  • How are federal and state agencies aligning their programs for OZ needs?

  • What kind of projects are needed for a more robust and resilient recovery?

  • What metrics matter for OZ reporting and evaluation?

  • What can accelerators and incubators do to increase start-up businesses in OZs?

  • What role can universities, non-profits, and philanthropy play in maximizing OZ success?

• REGISTER (free): Please forward or post to others that may be interested. We hope to see you soon online. The URL for the registration link will be in the email you receive after you register here.

• This is a non-partisan event. Join us for an interactive conversation and action steps. The roundtable is being hosted by ASTRA (The Alliance for Science & Technology Research in America), the Center for Accelerating Innovation, the OZAcceleator.online, and the newly created Opportunity Zone Innovation Task Force.