Lawrence Census Tracts Nominated By State

For Immediate Release
October 21, 2026

LAWRENCE CENSUS TRACTS NOMINATED BY STATE FOR OPPORTUNITY ZONE 2.0
Mayor Whitfield Touts Potential Investment Opportunities

Lawrence, IN- Mayor Deb Whitfield announced today that the city has been notified by the State of Indiana that three out of four Lawrence census tracts that the city nominated for the Indiana Opportunity Zone 2.0 have been accepted by the state. “We nominated census tracts 602, 702, 805, and 201. All but census tract 201 were accepted,” Whitfield said.

Governor Mike Braun nominated 126 out of 501 that were requested throughout the state, including the three from Lawrence, eligible Indiana census tracts to the U.S. Department of the Treasury for certification. If approved, the new Opportunity Zones will begin their 10-year designation period on Jan 1, 2027. “The designations would give Indiana communities, including ours another important tool to encourage investment projects such as housing, downtown development, industrial development, and the reuse of vacant or underused properties,” Whitfield explained.

Opportunity Zones offer federal tax incentives to investors who put eligible capital into designated areas through qualified opportunity funds. “The goal is to encourage long-term private investment in communities that may otherwise have difficulty attracting capital,” said Whitfield. “The census tracts from Lawrence that were accepted by the state included areas covering Fort Harrison and what is known as the Trades District” the mayor explained.

Mayor Whitfield noted that the Final Reports of the Housing Ready Task Force and the Sewer Capacity Task Force both empaneled by the mayor last year respectively were instrumental in the successful census tract nominations. “Once again, I thank the hard work of the members of these two Task Forces whose Reports continue to guide important aspects of our policy direction,” said the mayor.

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About the City of Lawrence, Indiana 
Located northeast of Indianapolis, the City of Lawrence is Indiana’s 20th largest city and home to approximately 50,000 residents. While its military base was decommissioned in 1996, Lawrence has grown into a vibrant community that blends rich history with modern amenities. Under Mayor Deb Whitfield's leadership, the city continues to thrive as a welcoming place to live, work, and play. Learn more at cityoflawrence.org.