Elyria, Ohio
Three tracts, three jobs. Three census tracts in and around Elyria are designated Opportunity Zones effective January 1, 2027: downtown (tract 976), the Midway Mall corridor (tract 703) and the Leo Bullocks Parkway area (tract 709.01). Downtown is renewing historic buildings and small businesses around Ely Square. The Midway tract holds a mall site under a purchase agreement and, by Opportunity Zone Invest analysis, 237 income-restricted homes financed beside it. The Leo Bullocks tract is the older industrial west side. Cascade Park and the falls sit nearby, in an adjacent tract that is not designated. A fund could back historic reuse downtown, or neighborhood retail and services that serve the new homes in the Midway tract; that is not an offer or a prediction of returns, and tax counsel should review the structure.
The Ely Block, downtown Elyria (2013) · Photo: Nyttend, Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Lorain County has six designated tracts, three of them in and around Elyria. How Ohio’s county list counts them is in our November 11 story, Ohio’s county list undercounts Lorain: six zones, not five. The county’s other three are in the City of Lorain profile.
The case in 60 seconds
- Downtown: a square with a story. Opportunity Zone Invest analysis places Elyria City Hall, Ely Square, the Lorain County Courthouse and 417 Broad Street in tract 976, where Treasury’s eligibility file shows a 40.9% poverty rate. Forge 417, a historic rehabilitation of the Dixon and Robinson buildings facing the square, is under redevelopment. The Shoppes on Broad, a restored former county building at 374 Broad Street, opened to its first tenants in fall 2025. Mayor Kevin Brubaker said at a November 2025 ribbon-cutting there, “This is an exciting time for downtown Elyria, for sure.” Cascade Park and the Black River falls are nearby, in an adjacent tract that is not designated.7,6,8,9,10,11,12
- The Midway corridor: homes first. Tract 703 qualifies on income, not poverty: Treasury’s file puts its median family income at 63.3% of the area figure, under the 70% line, with a 14.0% poverty rate. The Ohio Housing Finance Agency board backed two projects there in May 2026, Black River Forge (122 homes) and McGregor Landing (115 homes for adults 55 and older), which Opportunity Zone Invest analysis places in this tract. Together they come to 237 income-restricted homes, our own sum. Midway Mall, about 58 acres, is under a purchase agreement with the Lorain County Port Authority as the seller.7,5,6,13
- Leo Bullocks Parkway: the industrial west side. Dawn Calvert, the city’s director of economic transformation and business services, told the Morning Journal on November 10, 2026 that tract 709.01 runs from State Route 113 south to Russia Road and includes older industrial properties, and that a site for workforce housing is already planned there; the city has not named it. Treasury’s file shows a 46.7% poverty rate and median family income at 28.2% of the area figure. The city says it chose the tract for its commercial, industrial and residential potential.14,7
- The city is ready to talk. Calvert said Elyria plans to begin building relationships with qualified funds now that the three areas have been selected, ahead of the January 1 effective date. “We were told, ‘Apply for three, hope for one,’” she said. The city’s release says the three areas offer opportunities including commercial redevelopment, new housing and industrial development. Questions go to the city’s Economic Development Department, whose page lists its address and phone.14,15,16
A founder, a waterfall and a square
The city’s history page tells it this way: Heman Ely arrived in March 1817 and settled land between two branches of the Black River, with the falls as a source of free power. When Lorain County was formed in 1822 at Ely’s behest, Elyria became the county seat.17
Ely donated land for the first courthouse on Ely Square, and the city says Elyria High School was incorporated in 1830 as the first chartered high school west of the Allegheny Mountains. Land for Ely Park and Cascade Park was later donated; Lorain County Metro Parks dates Cascade Park to 1894, when members of the Ely family deeded part of the valley to the city.17,12
Who's here
Independent shops with storefronts at The Shoppes on Broad, 374 Broad Street. Opportunity Zone Invest analysis places the address in tract 976, from an OpenStreetMap address point:6
| Employer | Sector | Local operations | Home country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roxy’s Emporium | Gifts and local crafts | Storefront at The Shoppes on Broad; relocated from another part of Elyria | USA |
| Kreations by Kianga | Custom clothing and gifts | Storefront at The Shoppes on Broad | USA |
| Design by Kathy V | Hand-sewn goods | Storefront at The Shoppes on Broad; ribbon-cutting Nov. 5, 2025 | USA |
| Find It Keep It | Thrifted clothing | Storefront at The Shoppes on Broad | USA |
| Ally Rose Creations | Crocheted and 3D-printed toys | Storefront at The Shoppes on Broad | USA |
Tenants are as listed by News 5 Cleveland (page undated; image dated December 2025) and the Morning Journal. The owner said in September 2025 that the building offers up to 14 storefronts.18,10
Pitch Elyria, Battle of the Businesses
Elyria Community Partnership, the downtown revitalization nonprofit, lists Pitch Elyria – Battle of the Businesses on its events calendar for November 18, 2026, along with a downtown storefront holiday window decorating contest.19
Skill City Promise
The city and Lorain County Community College run Skill City Promise, which supports Elyrians’ enrollment and completion, at no cost, of short-term credential programs in in-demand fields. The college is nearby, outside the designated tracts, and is a primary tenant of Forge 417.20,8
Elyria vs. Ohio
| Metric | Elyria | Ohio | Vintage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population, 2010 Census | 54,533 | 11,536,504 | 2010 and 2020 Census |
| Population, 2020 Census | 52,656 | 11,799,448 | 2010 and 2020 Census |
| Population, July 1, 2025 est. | 53,634 | 11,900,510 | PEP V2025 (July 1, 2025 estimate) |
| Change since 2020 | +1.9% | +0.9% | PEP V2025 (July 1, 2025 estimate) |
| Median household income | $54,945 | $71,389 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Per-capita income | $32,302 | $40,552 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Bachelor's or higher, age 25+ | 17.8% | 31.5% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Foreign-born | 2.4% | 5.2% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $156,100 | $214,800 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median gross rent | $906 | $1,034 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Owner-occupied rate | 60.0% | 67.2% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Mean commute | 22.6 min | 23.4 min | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Persons in poverty | 16.7% | 13.3% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
U.S. Census Bureau: ACS 2020–2024 5-year (income, education, housing, commute, poverty), PEP V2025 (July 1, 2025 estimate), 2010 and 2020 Census; pulled from the Census API at build time.3
The Elyria and Ohio figures above are citywide. Zone status follows the census tract, and only tract 976 lies wholly inside the city limit. See every designated tract in Lorain County and in Ohio.6,21,22
Cascade Park and the falls
Cascade Park, 387 Furnace Street, sits in an adjacent tract that is not designated, about 440 meters from downtown tract 976 (Opportunity Zone Invest analysis). Lorain County Metro Parks describes the East Falls (30 feet high, 50 wide) and West Falls (35 feet high, 80 wide), and a 440-foot bridge installed in 2020 that links the park to Elywood Park and the Black River Bikeway on the North Coast Inland Trail.12,6
What people are building
These projects sit in or near the three designated tracts. Tract assignments are Opportunity Zone Invest analysis.6
Forge 417
Foss & Co describes a mixed-use rehabilitation with 16 market-rate apartments and 25,828 square feet of office and retail space, anchored by an esports and gaming facility with a 200+ seat arena and Lorain County Community College as a primary tenant. The Dixon and Robinson buildings, 401, 415, 417 and 425 Broad Street, face the public square. Ohio’s December 20, 2022 announcement, as printed by the Morning Journal, listed a $2.15 million Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit and a total project cost of $42,055,739. The Census geocoder and an OpenStreetMap address point both place 417 Broad Street in tract 976; the other addresses have not been checked individually.8,9,6
The Shoppes on Broad
Dan Martin purchased and restored a building at 374 Broad Street that had been in Lorain County’s hands, with up to 14 storefronts. “I remember saying this could be an amazing business incubator, where people can rent a small space, try out their dream and see if it works.” Of the project he said, “This is about giving entrepreneurs a chance. It’s about testing an idea, growing a business, and bringing more people into Elyria.” (Morning Journal, Sept. 28, 2025.) The address is placed in tract 976 from an OpenStreetMap address point; the Census geocoder has no match for it.10,6
Ely Square Looking Glass and City Hall mural
The Old County Courthouse Historical Looking Glass, funded by the Lorain County Visitors Bureau, was unveiled at the August 2026 Third Thursday event and uses archival and historical imagery to offer a new perspective on the old courthouse dome. Elyria Community Partnership’s executive director said, “As an organization, we understand we can not effectively look toward revitalization efforts without understanding the history of the community.” A call for artists for a mural on a City Hall wall facing Ely Square opened January 29, 2026. Ely Square and City Hall test inside tract 976.23,24,6
McGregor Landing
A $36 million, three-story building of about 95,000 square feet with 115 apartments for adults 55 and older at or below 60% of area median income, beside McGregor’s new PACE clinic at 570 Leona Street. Completion is expected in fall 2027, with applications opening in June 2027. The McGregor Foundation’s president and CEO said, “McGregor is proud to partner with CHN and other partners to bring McGregor Landing to life, creating 115 affordable apartments that will expand housing choice for residents of Lorain County.” An OpenStreetMap address point places it in tract 703, probably; the Census geocoder has no match. Its Ohio housing tax credits are a separate program from the Opportunity Zone.25,5,6
Black River Forge
A 122-apartment workforce housing project on a vacant 6.8-acre site at 2101 West River Road North, all income- and rent-restricted at or below 60% of area median income for 30 years. The city’s committee minutes of August 10, 2026 give the investment as roughly $23 million to $26 million and describe the project as part of the redevelopment of the mall area. The Census geocoder places the address in tract 703. Its Ohio housing tax credits are a separate program from the Opportunity Zone.26,5,6
Midway Mall
The Lorain County Port Authority entered a $15.8 million purchase agreement for the 57.48-acre mall site with Industrial Realty Group in May 2026, the Morning Journal reported. The Port’s director said the buyer indicated residential townhouses, condominiums or apartments and some commercial uses, and that he was not certain of the exact plans; he estimated a full transformation could take 5 to 10 years. Lorain Daily reported on October 7, 2026 that the mayor told council the city and developer were working through the terms of a development agreement and that progress was being made. A September 7, 2026 Morning Journal article called the purchase pending, and we found no report of a closing as of November 12, 2026. Opportunity Zone Invest analysis places the mall in tract 703.13,27,28,29,6
Housing is already moving
Both addresses test inside tract 703 by Opportunity Zone Invest analysis, one project broke ground in August 2026 and the other has its Ohio housing financing. The Midway tract is where the housing is, and where the mall site sits.
From demand to deal →Tract 976: Downtown Elyria
GEOID 39093097600 · designated · effective Jan 1, 2027 · non-rural (10% step-up) · in a 2018 OZ: partly1,2
Poverty rate: Treasury's Sep 2026 eligibility data (ACS 2020–2024 5-year). Other figures: ACS 2022 5-year, as loaded with the Rev. Proc. 2026-14 list.21
- Elyria City Hall, 131 Court Street
- Ely Square
- Lorain County Courthouse
- Lorain County Justice Center, 225 Court Street
- 226 Middle Avenue (Lorain County Chamber of Commerce, Port Authority and Commissioners offices)
- Forge 417, 417 Broad Street
- The Shoppes on Broad, 374 Broad Street
Opportunity Zone Invest analysis of Census geocoder address matches and OpenStreetMap points. 374 Broad Street is placed from an OpenStreetMap address point; the Census geocoder has no match. 415 and 425 Broad Street, also part of Forge 417’s buildings, have not been checked individually. The Elyria Public Library and Cascade Park are nearby, in adjacent tracts that are not designated.
Tract details → · Open on the OZ map → · All eligible tracts in Ohio →
Tract 703: Midway Mall corridor
GEOID 39093070300 · designated · effective Jan 1, 2027 · non-rural (10% step-up) · in a 2018 OZ: no1,2
Poverty rate: Treasury's Sep 2026 eligibility data (ACS 2020–2024 5-year). Other figures: ACS 2022 5-year, as loaded with the Rev. Proc. 2026-14 list.21
- Midway Mall
- Black River Forge site, 2101 West River Road North
- McGregor Landing and McGregor PACE clinic, 570 Leona Street (probably inside)
Opportunity Zone Invest analysis. This tract qualifies on income, not poverty: median family income is 63.3% of the area figure, under the 70% line, with a 14.0% poverty rate. About 47% of the tract’s area lies inside the Elyria city limit, and its Census internal point is outside any incorporated place. 570 Leona Street is placed from an OpenStreetMap address point; the street is new, so the parcel should be confirmed with county records.
Tract details → · Open on the OZ map → · All eligible tracts in Ohio →
Tract 709.01: Leo Bullocks Parkway
GEOID 39093070901 · designated · effective Jan 1, 2027 · non-rural (10% step-up) · in a 2018 OZ: no1,2
Poverty rate: Treasury's Sep 2026 eligibility data (ACS 2020–2024 5-year). Other figures: ACS 2022 5-year, as loaded with the Rev. Proc. 2026-14 list.21
- Leo Bullocks Parkway (the whole street runs inside the tract)
Opportunity Zone Invest analysis of Census road geometry. About 81% of the tract’s area lies inside the Elyria city limit. The city describes the tract as running from State Route 113 south to Russia Road. Individual sites will be added here as the city names them.
Tract details → · Open on the OZ map → · All eligible tracts in Ohio →
Why these three tracts
Dawn Calvert, Elyria’s director of economic transformation and business services, told the Morning Journal on November 10, 2026 that the city identified seven eligible census tracts and chose three it believed offered the most potential for commercial, industrial and residential development. The three cover portions of downtown, the Midway Mall corridor and the area near Leo Bullocks Drive.
Treasury’s eligibility file shows how each qualifies. Tract 976 has a 40.9% poverty rate. Tract 709.01 has a 46.7% poverty rate and median family income at 28.2% of the area figure. Tract 703 qualifies on income: its median family income is 63.3% of the area figure, under the 70% line. None of the three has the same 11-digit tract ID as a 2018 zone, so Opportunity Zone Invest does not label any of them a holdover; Calvert said downtown was part of the original program.
Source: Morning Journal, Nov. 10, 2026; Treasury OZ 2.0 eligibility data file, Sept. 23, 2026.14,7
The test is poverty of at least 20% with income at or below 125% of the area figure, or income at or below 70% of it. Treasury uses median family income against the Cleveland, OH area figure; its file shows no income figure for tract 976.
From demand to deal
Historic reuse and storefronts downtown (tract 976)
A fund may be able to back rehabilitation of historic Broad Street and Ely Square buildings, apartments over ground-floor retail, and small-business space, building on a $42 million historic rehabilitation under redevelopment and a restored storefront building filling with tenants. The city offers façade, historic redevelopment and design grants, abatement and tax increment financing. Historic buildings cost more to rehabilitate, so projects usually layer local incentives. An operating business would need to qualify as an opportunity zone business. This is not an offer or a prediction of returns.9,10,20
Homes and neighborhood services around Midway (tract 703)
Outparcels and adjacent infill that serve the 237 income-restricted homes financed there (Opportunity Zone Invest’s sum of two projects), plus neighborhood retail and services, are the realistic fit here. The mall site itself is under a purchase agreement and a development agreement was still being negotiated on October 5, 2026; this profile does not describe the buyer’s plans or suggest a fund can join them. Not a recommendation.5,28,13
Reuse of older industrial buildings (tract 709.01)
The city describes older industrial properties that have experienced disinvestment and a planned workforce-housing site. Reuse and modernization of industrial buildings, small-bay flex space and workforce housing are the kinds of projects that could fit; the city has not named a pipeline. This is what the city describes, not a recommendation.14
Illustrative OZ-eligible strategies, each matched to a documented local need. None of them is a recommendation.
Defer. Reduce. Eliminate.
Defer
Roll a capital gain into a Qualified Opportunity Fund within 180 days and defer the federal tax for 5 years.
Reduce
Hold 5 years and get a 10% basis step-up. Tracts 976, 703 and 709.01 are non-rural; rural funds get 30%.
Eliminate
Hold 10 years and pay zero federal tax on the investment's appreciation.
Model your tax savings → · OZ 2.0 investor timeline · OZ real estate investing
From designation to the 10-year exclusion
- Nov 5, 2026Ohio nominates 260 tracts, including tracts 976, 703 and 709.0122
- By Nov 27, 2026Treasury published the final list on November 5, 2026 (press release sb0682).22
- Jan 1, 2027Designated OZ 2.0 tracts take effect January 1, 2027.22
- Jan 1, 2032+First 5-year step-up for investments made in early 2027
- Jan 1, 2037+First 10-year exclusion for investments made in early 2027
Your 180-day deadline
Open 180-day calculator →Counts the sale date as day 1, like our full tool. K-1, installment and REIT gains can start later. Not tax advice.
Layers on top of OZ
| Program | Administered by | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Opportunity Zones | U.S. Treasury / IRS | Deferral, a 10% step-up for these non-rural tracts, and a 10-year exclusion on appreciation. All three Elyria-area tracts are flagged Non-Rural in the CDFI Fund workbook, so the rural enhancement does not apply.1,2 |
| Ohio Opportunity Zones credit | Ohio Department of Development | A separate non-refundable state credit equal to 10 percent of a qualifying investment made through an Ohio Qualified Opportunity Fund, up to $2 million per applicant in the 2026–2027 biennium. Applications run in January and July. Check the department’s program rules.31 |
| City of Elyria programs | City of Elyria Economic Development | Downtown Façade Grant (dollar-for-dollar match, up to $10,000), Downtown Historic Redevelopment Grant (up to $50,000, Downtown Commons area), Architectural Design Rendering support (up to $10,000), Community Reinvestment Area abatement, tax increment financing and a downtown retail pop-up program. Funding depends on program eligibility and available funds.20 |
| Lorain County Port Authority financing | Lorain County Port Authority | A bond reserve fund for loans of $1 million to $10 million and port lease financing with a capital lease sales-tax exemption for construction materials.30 |
| Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit | Ohio Department of Development | Forge 417’s Dixon and Robinson buildings were announced for a $2.15 million credit in December 2022. The credit supports historic rehabilitation and is separate from the Opportunity Zone program.9 |
| Ohio housing tax credits | Ohio Housing Finance Agency | Affordable-housing financing, such as the $10 million of Ohio credits each for Black River Forge and McGregor Landing. These are not Opportunity Zone benefits.5 |
Elyria Opportunity Zone FAQ
Is downtown Elyria an Opportunity Zone?
Yes, from January 1, 2027. Downtown tract 39093097600 (tract 976) is designated on Treasury’s final OZ 2.0 list, published November 5, 2026. By Opportunity Zone Invest analysis of Census tract geometry, it includes Elyria City Hall, Ely Square and the Lorain County Courthouse.
How many Opportunity Zones does Elyria have?
Three tracts in and around Elyria: downtown (976), the Midway Mall corridor (703) and the Leo Bullocks Parkway area (709.01). The city says all three areas it proposed were selected. Lorain County has six designated tracts in all; the other three are in the City of Lorain. By Opportunity Zone Invest’s internal-point analysis, tracts 976 and 709.01 have their internal points in Elyria, while tract 703’s internal point is outside any incorporated place and about 47% of its area lies inside the city limit.
Is Midway Mall in an Opportunity Zone?
Opportunity Zone Invest analysis places Midway Mall in tract 39093070300 (tract 703), which is designated. The Lorain County Port Authority entered a $15.8 million purchase agreement with Industrial Realty Group in May 2026; it is under a purchase agreement. At an October 5, 2026 council meeting the mayor said the city and the developer were still working through a development agreement. We checked on November 12, 2026: the Port Authority’s page, the City of Elyria’s site and local news show no closing, and a September 7, 2026 Morning Journal article called the purchase pending.
Is Cascade Park inside a zone?
No. Cascade Park and the Black River falls are in an adjacent tract that is not designated, about 440 meters from the downtown tract, a short walk away. The Elyria Public Library and Lorain County Community College are likewise nearby rather than inside a designated tract (Opportunity Zone Invest analysis).
What qualifies these tracts?
Treasury’s eligibility file shows a 40.9% poverty rate in tract 976, a 46.7% poverty rate and income at 28.2% of the area figure in tract 709.01, and income at 63.3% of the area figure in tract 703, which has a 14.0% poverty rate and so qualifies on income. The test is poverty of at least 20% with income at or below 125% of the area figure, or income at or below 70% of the area figure.
What is being built in the zones?
Examples: Forge 417, a historic redevelopment of the Dixon and Robinson buildings on Broad Street downtown, under redevelopment; and, in the Midway tract by Opportunity Zone Invest analysis, McGregor Landing (115 apartments for adults 55 and older, $36 million, groundbreaking August 5, 2026) and Black River Forge (122 workforce apartments, financing announced May 21, 2026). The 237 homes total is Opportunity Zone Invest’s own sum of those two projects.
Does the Ohio tax credit apply?
Ohio has a separate credit equal to 10% of an investment through an Ohio qualified opportunity fund, up to $2 million per applicant in the 2026-27 biennium, per the Ohio Department of Development. Check the program rules.
Can I check whether an Elyria address is in a designated tract?
Yes. Enter the address in the Census Bureau’s address lookup or the Opportunity Zone Invest tract lookup. Zone status follows the census tract, not the city limit, and tract 703 extends beyond Elyria.
Who do I contact at the city?
Elyria’s Economic Development Department, 131 Court Street, Suite 302, Elyria, OH 44035, phone 440-326-1410, as published on the department’s page. The city said more information on the designations will be shared on its website in the coming months.
Sources
- 1. CDFI Fund final Opportunity Zone workbook, CDFI Fund: https://www.cdfifund.gov/media/8018881/download?inline (accessed 2026-11-12)
- 2. Treasury announcement of designated Opportunity Zones (press release sb0682), U.S. Department of the Treasury: https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0682 (accessed 2026-11-12)
- 3. QuickFacts, Elyria city, Ohio (PEP V2025; ACS 2020–2024 5-year; 2010/2020 Census), U.S. Census Bureau: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/elyriacityohio,OH/PST045224 (accessed 2026-11-12)
- 4. Ohio’s county list undercounts Lorain: six zones, not five, OpportunityZoneInvest: https://opportunityzoneinvest.com/news/ohio-county-list-undercounts-lorain-six-zones-not-five/ (accessed 2026-11-12)
- 5. May 2026 funded housing developments (release dated May 21, 2026), Ohio Housing Finance Agency: https://ohiohome.org/news/releases/2026/may-fundedprojects.aspx (accessed 2026-11-12)
- 6. Opportunity Zone Invest analysis of Census Bureau address matches and OpenStreetMap points tested against Census tract polygons (re-run Nov 12, 2026)
- 7. OZ 2.0 eligible-tract data transparency file (Sept 23, 2026), U.S. Department of the Treasury: https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/131/OZ2-Eligible-Tracts-Data-Transparency-09232026.xlsx (accessed 2026-11-12)
- 8. Forge 417, Foss & Co: https://fossandco.com/projects/forge-417/ (accessed 2026-11-12)
- 9. Ohio announces $2M in tax credit for historic downtown Elyria project (Dec 20, 2022), Morning Journal: https://www.morningjournal.com/2022/12/20/ohio-announces-2m-in-tax-credit-for-historic-downtown-elyria-project/ (accessed 2026-11-12)
- 10. The Shoppes on Broad set to bring new life to downtown Elyria (Sept 28, 2025), Morning Journal: https://www.morningjournal.com/2025/09/28/the-shoppes-on-broad-set-to-bring-new-life-to-downtown-elyria/ (accessed 2026-11-12)
- 11. Design by Kathy V officially opens in The Shoppes on Broad in Elyria (Nov 9, 2025), Morning Journal: https://www.morningjournal.com/2025/11/09/design-by-kathy-v-officially-opens-in-the-shoppes-on-broad-n-elyria/ (accessed 2026-11-12)
- 12. Cascade Park, Lorain County Metro Parks: https://www.loraincountymetroparks.com/cascade-park-info (accessed 2026-11-12)
- 13. Midway Mall in Elyria: $15.8 million purchase agreement (May 19, 2026), Morning Journal: https://www.morningjournal.com/2026/05/19/midway-mall-in-elyria-sold-for-15-8m-to-development-group/ (accessed 2026-11-12)
- 14. Three Elyria areas receive federal investment incentives (Nov 10, 2026), Morning Journal: https://www.morningjournal.com/2026/11/10/three-elyria-areas-receive-federal-investment-incentives/ (accessed 2026-11-12)
- 15. Elyria secures three federal Opportunity Zone designations to attract new investment and development (posted Nov 6, 2026), City of Elyria: https://www.cityofelyria.org/announcements/elyria-secures-three-federal-opportunity-zone-designations-to-attract-new-investment-and-development/ (accessed 2026-11-12)
- 16. Economic Development Department, City of Elyria: https://www.cityofelyria.org/department/economic-development/ (accessed 2026-11-12)
- 17. History of Elyria, City of Elyria: https://www.cityofelyria.org/history-of-elyria/ (accessed 2026-11-12)
- 18. Future of downtown Elyria’s Shoppes on Broad signal new investment in city center (page undated; image dated Dec. 2025), News 5 Cleveland: https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/oh-lorain/future-of-downtown-elyrias-shoppes-on-broad-signal-new-investment-in-city-center (accessed 2026-11-12)
- 19. Events, Elyria Community Partnership: https://elyriatogether.org/events (accessed 2026-11-12)
- 20. Economic development programs, City of Elyria: https://www.cityofelyria.org/department/economic-development/economic-development-programs/ (accessed 2026-11-12)
- 21. Lorain County, Ohio: Opportunity Zone tracts, OpportunityZoneInvest: https://opportunityzoneinvest.com/zones/ohio/lorain-county/ (accessed 2026-11-12)
- 22. Ohio Opportunity Zones, OpportunityZoneInvest: https://opportunityzoneinvest.com/zones/ohio/ (accessed 2026-11-12)
- 23. Looking glass added to downtown Elyria (Sept 15, 2026), Morning Journal: https://www.morningjournal.com/2026/09/15/looking-glass-added-to-downtown-elyria/ (accessed 2026-11-12)
- 24. Call for artists launched for Elyria City Hall mural (Jan 29, 2026), Morning Journal: https://www.morningjournal.com/2026/01/29/call-for-artists-launched-for-elyria-city-hall-mural/ (accessed 2026-11-12)
- 25. McGregor Landing groundbreaking release (Aug 2026), CHN Housing Partners: https://chnhousingpartners.org/news/mcgregor-foundation-chn-housing-partners-and-mayor-brubaker-break-ground-on-mcgregor-landing/ (accessed 2026-11-12)
- 26. Joint Community Development and Finance Committee minutes, Aug 10, 2026, City of Elyria: https://www.cityofelyria.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/JOINT_CD_FINANCE_MINUTES_AUG_10__2026.pdf (accessed 2026-11-12)
- 27. Developer buying Midway Mall from Lorain County Port Authority (about May 14, 2026; page undated), News 5 Cleveland: https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/oh-lorain/developer-buying-midway-mall-from-lorain-county-port-authority (accessed 2026-11-12)
- 28. Midway Mall redevelopment advances as Elyria negotiates deal (Oct 7, 2026), Lorain Daily: https://loraindaily.com/midway-mall-redevelopment-advances-as-elyria-negotiates-deal/ (accessed 2026-11-12)
- 29. On the job with a sales professional at a Midway Mall powersports store (Sept 7, 2026), Morning Journal: https://www.morningjournal.com/2026/09/07/on-the-job-with-lee-ann-bors-of-johnny-ks-powersports-in-elyria/ (accessed 2026-11-12)
- 30. Port Authority, Lorain County, Ohio: https://www.loraincountyohio.gov/348/Port-Authority (accessed 2026-11-12)
- 31. Ohio Opportunity Zones, Ohio Department of Development: https://development.ohio.gov/business/state-incentives/ohio-opportunity-zones (accessed 2026-11-12)
Image credits
- The Ely Block, downtown Elyria (2013): Nyttend, Public domain (Wikimedia Commons, photographed October 11, 2013; public domain; resized for this page. Opportunity Zone Invest analysis places the Ely Block (381 Broad Street) in tract 976, from the file’s Commons coordinates.) · Wikimedia Commons
Data as of Nov 12, 2026. Census figures: ACS 2020–2024 5-year; PEP V2025 (July 1, 2025 estimate); 2010 and 2020 Census.
Not tax advice. Not an offer to sell securities. Designated OZ 2.0 tracts take effect January 1, 2027.