Critics of the program say the regulations issued by Mr. Trump’s Treasury Department, which were meant to clarify what sort of investments would qualify for the special tax treatment, are unlikely to drive much investment into the sorts of projects that would help struggling people and communities, such as new businesses that would create jobs in areas with persistently high unemployment. Critics say evidence suggests the zones could be rewarding wealthy investors for projects that might well have happened even without the tax breaks. That includes a Mississippi sawmill that Mr. Trump spotlighted in 2019, which a new owner agreed …
