New interactive map to help connect local governments and small businesses.

A data firm has launched an interactive map aimed to help local governments find and target small businesses eligible for investment within the federal Opportunity Zones program.

Route Fifty reports:

The company, SMB Intelligence, earlier this month rolled out an interactive map and dataset that now feature about 2,800 small businesses and chains, located throughout the U.S., that are both “investable” and located within areas that are eligible for the program.

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There’s been interest in the data. Since posting it online, he said, about 40 state and local agencies, and 50 investors have reached out to SMB about it. The firm has plans to provide the data, which is updated every two weeks, to 15 agencies on a pilot basis starting in September.

The article notes a free version of the map is available on SMB’s website, however due to the labor involved in gathering data SMB may eventually charge to access it after the pilot run.

As previously reported on Conduit Street, Opportunity Zones are a new tool to encourage long-term private investment in low-income communities by providing federal tax breaks on any capital gains that result from specific investment in those communities. Federal officials have designated all 149 areas Maryland officials chose for the program which will be effective for 10 years.

Read Route Fifty and visit SMB Intelligence’s interactive map to learn more.

Related Coverage from Conduit Street:

DHCD to Host MD Opportunity Zone Conference

Maryland Identifies “Opportunity Zones”, Awaits Federal Approval