The Washington State Department of Commerce is supporting the Governor’s Office in developing recommendations for final Opportunity Zone designations by June 30, 2026. Opportunity Zones are federally designated census tracts intended to encourage long-term private investment in undercapitalized, historically underserved, and low-income communities. The application process allows anyone to submit a Census Tract Nomination Application, though Commerce strongly encourages local collaboration and one application per tract. Applications are evaluated using three major scoring areas: community need, market and investment readiness, and policy alignment. Applicants may include up to three possible development projects per census tract nomination and must upload required documentation in the nomination portal to receive assigned points. The process is not a standard procurement for vendor services, but it is a public-sector opportunity involving economic development, community investment, housing, and place-based revitalization planning.