The commissioner shall appoint a Deputy Commissioner of Economic and Community Development who shall be qualified by training and experience for the duties of the office of commissioner and shall, in the absence, disability or disqualification of the commissioner, perform all the functions and have all the powers and duties of said office. In addition to any other powers, duties or responsibilities, the Deputy Commissioner of Economic and Community Development shall act as the state’s primary point of contact for all state programs relating to the federal opportunity zone program, established pursuant to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, P.L. 115-97. The position of the Deputy Commissioner of Economic and Community Development shall be exempt from the classified service.