U.S. Senator David Perdue (R-GA) and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson today visited the Russell Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, located in an Atlanta Opportunity Zone, and held a roundtable discussion with business and community leaders on Georgia’s 260 federal Opportunity Zones.

“Working with President Trump, we created federal Opportunity Zones to drive private investment into underserved communities,” said Senator Perdue. “Our goal was to revitalize distressed areas by creating financial incentives and allowing the free-enterprise system to work. These efforts are making a real difference in our state. Georgia’s 260 Opportunity Zones have attracted new investment, created quality jobs, and lifted people from poverty. The Russell Center, located in the heart of an Opportunity Zone, has proven to be a tremendous resource for Black entrepreneurs, and I share their commitment to helping all Georgians succeed.”

“There are 26 Opportunity Zones right here in Atlanta, home to more than 85,000 people,” said Secretary Ben Carson. “Organizations like the Russell Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship has been one of the driving forces for future Black leaders to help break the poverty cycle. From day one of his Administration President Trump promised to be a champion for our forgotten men and women of America, and I am proud to report that promise is being kept.”

Opportunity Zones, created by the historic Tax Cuts & Jobs Act, are designed to incentivize long-term investment in distressed communities.

According to the Council of Economic Advisers, federal Opportunity Zones drove an estimated $75 billion in new investments to distressed American communities through 2019. These investments have created at least 500,000 new jobs, and approximately one million Americans will be lifted from poverty as a result.