“Jumpstarting Communities with Investment – A detailed discussion about Opportunity Zones” is the topic that Kostas A. Poulakidas, partner and co-chair of Taft’s Public Finance and Economic Development practice group, will deliver to attendees at the Indiana Construction Roundtable on March 14 from 7:30 – 9:30 a.m.

Poulakidas will be joined on the panel by Laurie Schultz of Avenue Development, Tom Peck of Hageman Group and Elaine Bedel of Indiana Economic Development Corporation.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (P.L. 115-97) provided another incentive for real estate developers across the United States to improve underutilized property in the form of Opportunity Zones. Each state governor can nominate areas to become Opportunity Zones. Indiana currently has 156 designated areas to attract investment.

Poulakidas has delivered previous discussions on Qualified Opportunity Zones that uncovered legal and regulatory aspects, tax benefits and other practical considerations. Events included these:

• Qualified Opportunity Zones Program Presentation Video Released 
• 2019 Opportunity Zone Expo Los Angeles

Poulakidas provides economic development and public finance representation to government entities, real estate development firms, commercial banks, manufacturers and nonprofit organizations. He focuses on public/municipal finance, economic development incentives and strategies, tax increment financing (TIF), venture capital, EB5 financing, tax benefits related to Qualified Opportunity Zones, forming Qualified Opportunity Zone Funds for private equity investment, private-public partnerships (P3s) and project finance.