Opportunity Zones Impact: Exclusive Interview with HUD Secretary Scott Turner

Since their inception in 2017 under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Opportunity Zones have aimed to revitalize underserved areas through tax incentives for investors. HUD Secretary Scott Turner brings a national perspective to this federal program. A Texas-born leader with a background in the NFL and Texas state legislature, Turner previously served as Executive Director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council from 2019 to 2021, where he oversaw the implementation of the Opportunity Zones program, engaging stakeholders nationwide through a listening tour and shaping federal strategies to revitalize economically distressed communities.

On April 11, 2025, the same day as the Opportunity Zone Summit held in Miami, our editor in chief, Arijana Koskarova, had the opportunity to sit with with him for an exclusive interview at the Frost Museum in Miami to discuss the Opportunity Zones Impact on economic growth, housing, and homelessness in the city and beyond, and how his vision for Opportunity Zones aligns with the new administration’s goals.

Mr. Secretary, drawing on your experience at the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council and now as HUD Secretary, how does your vision for Opportunity Zones align with the new administration’s goals for economic and community development?

“That’s a great question. You know, President Trump is all about America First and promoting America First agenda. A big part of that is economic development. And as you know, the spirit of the law for Opportunity Zones is economic development and community development. And at HUD, we are laser focused on developing communities. We have a very critical mission at HUD as it pertains to housing, safe and affordable and sustainable housing, also homelessness and disaster recovery. And so we’re all about community. We’re about building a community. And Opportunity Zones are the epitome of community development because of its success in the past and its success in the future. And so they are greatly aligned. Economic development, the president’s agenda, and HUD’s initiatives as it pertains to Opportunity Zones.”

Mr. Secretary, as the Opportunity Zones program nears its 2026 sunset, what long-term strategies is your administration developing to sustain economic growth in Miami, particularly by fostering next-generation industries and supporting small businesses?

“Good, so we’re taking inventory. What have we done well, and how can we improve on that? What hasn’t been done well, and how do we put that to the side so we don’t make the same mistakes or have the same issues? I think we build upon the successes of Opportunity Zones. We’re very excited in anticipation of Opportunity Zones 2.0, if you will. And as you know, Congress yesterday gave a big boost to the country in passing one step further the president’s blueprint of the budget and the tax cuts, which includes Opportunity Zones. And so we build upon that for the posterity of our nation for economic development and small businesses, to your point, are a big part of Opportunity Zones. They’re a big part of creating new operating businesses. And whenever you create new businesses, you create new jobs. And so in America, we want to create as many jobs as we can for middle-class America. That is the heartbeat of our country, small business. And it’s also a big part of Opportunity Zones. And so to wrap all that up, the spirit of Opportunity Zones is economic development and community development. And so we’re laser-focused on that from the president’s leadership, from HUD, I know, and from other agencies and our industry partners. Great days ahead.”

Impact of Opportunity Zone Projects

Mr. Secretary, Miami has seen major investments in its Opportunity Zones, like the Liberty Square redevelopment and UNI Tower projects. How have these initiatives helped economic growth, job creation, and affordable housing in the city?

“Well, and you just gave great examples in the UNI Tower and Liberty Square. And that’s a great picture of public-private partnerships, of the public interest and the private interest coming together. One great thing about Opportunity Zones is that it’s a great convener to bring all stakeholders to the table. And that’s what you’re seeing in these projects. You’re seeing elected officials, entrepreneurs, developers, community leaders, faith leaders, education leaders, all coming to the table to identify the problem, but then to create strategies for long-term sustainability. And as you see, we came here, our team and I came here five years ago for the ribbon cutting for Liberty Square and for the UNI Tower. And so now you’re seeing a manifestation of the reality of people coming together, ideating, strategizing, investing, and that’s the beauty of Opportunity Zones. And so to answer your question about economic development, that’s it.”

Mr. Secretary, Miami has reduced homelessness by 5% over the past year. How is HUD leveraging the Opportunity Zones program and other initiatives to further combat homelessness in the city, and what role do public-private partnerships play in these efforts?

“That’s great news. And I have just learned that Miami’s homelessness rate went down, which is very encouraging. But on the flip side of that, the overall homelessness rate in our country went up 18% last year. Over 770,000 people in our country, including families, were homeless on one single night in December of 2024. The HUD report reflected that to us. And so we still have a lot of work as it pertains to homelessness, public-private partnerships, engaging nonprofit and faith-based organizations. It’s vital to eradicating homelessness, including our homelessness veterans around our country. And so at HUD, we are working very hard to ensure that faith-based organizations and nonprofit organizations can work better and work easier with the federal government. Matter of fact, to be encouraged to work with the federal government, because in past years, faith-based organizations in particular have not been welcomed or invited to work with HUD, in particular, as it pertains to homelessness. And so we’re very focused on engaging the public-private partnerships to eradicate homelessness. And Opportunity Zones give us that vehicle to build more housing, to build affordable housing, as we’re seeing here in Miami and we’ve seen in other states. And so that’s a big part of attacking homelessness is providing quality housing for the people of America.”