WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A pair of areas in Whatcom County are being primed for increased development.

Governor Bob Ferguson announced 99 nominations across the state on Thursday, Oct. 8, for the federal Opportunity Zones 2.0 program.

The program offers tax incentives for investors, developers and financial institutions to fund real estate development and businesses in low-income and rural communities.

One of those new opportunity zones lies in an intersection of Bellingham’s Waterfront, Old Town and Downtown districts. The nomination summary notes low median income and high poverty metrics in the area, which contains an abundance of land that’s ripe for mixed-use development.

The other new opportunity zone in Whatcom County will aim to expand development in the Lummi Nation’s Salish Village. The 160-acre site includes the Lummi Bay Market and has plans to add retail and entertainment businesses, along with hotels.

Ferguson’s nominations will now go in front of the U.S. Treasury Department to review and certify the nominations. If approved, the designations will take effect on Jan. 1, 2027 and last for the next decade. The program was first created in 2017, and this new round marks the second designation period.

You can view more information on the zones on the Summary OZ Dashboard.