HUD Regional Administrator Lynne Patton Convenes in Trenton to Maximize Investments in New Jersey Opportunity Zones

HUD Region II Regional Administrator Lynne Patton hosted a statewide Opportunity Zones Convening for New Jersey municipalities and stakeholders interested in attracting OZ investors to their local communities. The day-long event provided valuable information and resources that will potentially boost economic development in the State. New Jersey Acting Governor Sheila Oliver, NJ HMFA's Charles Richman, NJ Economic Development Agency CEO Tim Sullivan, NJ Redevelopment Authority President & CEO Leslie Anderson, IRS Senior Stakeholder Liaison, Richard Furlong; and U.S. Economic Development Administration Assistant Secretary Dr. John Fleming, presented and delivered remarks.

The event, that took place at the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency's Gallery Space, featured subject matter experts that addressed local economic development issues. There are 8,764 Opportunity Zones in the United States, 169 of them on New Jersey located in 75 municipalities.

"Opportunity Zones were created to benefit local communities, and it is vital that New Jersey municipalities and stakeholders become aware of the tools available to attract investment," said Lynne Patton, HUD Regional Administrator for New York and New Jersey. "At HUD, we are passionate about this initiative, because we know that Opportunity Zones will elevate distressed neighborhoods by encouraging new business development and creating substantial job opportunities for New Jersey residents."

Presenters included: Richard Furlong, Internal Revenue Service; Christopher Wheeler, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs; John Costello, New Jersey Economic Development Authority; Darryl Godfrey, New Jersey Redevelopment Authority; Chelsea Amelia Cruz, Community Development Finance, Federal Reserve Bank of New York; Lei Ding, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia; John Murphy, Principal, Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund; Maria Vizcarrondo, Council of New Jersey Grantmakers; the Cumberland County Improvement Authority; and New Jersey Community Capital. HUD presenters included Angela Aloia, Justin Scheid, and Joey Baietti, from the HUD Offices of Community Planning & Development and Field Policy and Management.

Evan Weiss, Office of the NJ Governor; Tim Sullivan, CEO, New Jersey Economic Development Authority; Richard Furlong, Senior Stakeholder Liaison, Internal Revenue Service; Charles Richman, Executive Director, NJ Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency; Lynne Patton, HUD Regional Administrator; Leslie Anderson, President & CEO, New Jersey Redevelopment Authority	Front row left to right: HUD RA Lynne Patton, NJ Acting Governor Sheila Oliver, HUD Region II Senior Policy Advisor Ashley Ludlow; HUD Region II DRA Stephen Murphy; HUD Senior Management Analyst and event organizer Angela Aloia; Joey Baietti, HUD Community Planning and Development; Annemarie Uebbing, HUD NJ Director of Community Planning and Development; Justin Scheid, HUD Field Policy and Management.
New Jersey Acting Governor Sheila Oliver delivered remarks	HUD Region II Regional Administrator introduces NJ Acting Governor Sheila Oliver
HUD Region II Regional Administrator introduces NJ Acting Governor Sheila Oliver	U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development delivered the keynote speech

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