The US Economic Development Administration (EDA) awarded $10,350,000 total in Opportunity Zone grants in 2020 in order to fund economic development projects in Lafayette County.
The only grant awarded in the county was $10,350,000, to Lexington.
According to the Internal Revenue Service, opportunity zones were added to the tax code under The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. The bill has come under some criticism for creating another big tax break for the ultra-wealthy.
The following table shows how much the EDA invested in projects in all counties in Missouri in 2020.
Total awarded by county in Missouri (2020)
| Rank | County | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lafayette County | $10,350,000 |
| 2 | Randolph County | $6,376,600 |
| 3 | St. Louis County | $3,337,602 |
| 4 | Greene County | $2,352,402 |
| 5 | Montgomery County | $2,108,403 |
| 6 | Pemiscot County | $2,079,428 |
| 7 | Clay County | $1,000,000 |
| 8 | Buchanan County | $471,400 |
| 9 | Ripley County | $308,120 |
| 10 | Butler County | $99,750 |
| 11 | St. Louis city | $45,000 |
