Bismarck  (CSi)  Governor Doug Burgum has announced that among the 25  Opportunity Zones in North Dakota are areas that included most of southern and western Valley City, an area that also includes much of downtown and southern Jamestown, all of Ellendale in Dickey County and much of Harvey in Wells County.

The Opportunity Zone is the chance for local people to invest in local communities and shelter some income from capital gains tax.

The Opportunity Zone program was part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act approved by Congress and signed by the president. All the states were allowed to specify areas that would participate in the program.

Director of the Economic Development and Finance Division of the North Dakota Department of Commerce, John Schneider says, while the basic makeup of the program is known, the details are still being developed.