[NOTE: USCIS HAS UPDATED THIS LIST AS OF DECEMBER 2008. PLEASE SEE OUR LATEST ARTICLE HERE]
The Immigrant Investor (EB-5) Pilot Program is designed to encourage foreign investment by providing a vehicle for investment in the form of an economic unit called a “Regional Center.” The Regional Centers are private or public entities that have received government approval to participate in the program. They enable the amassing and pooling of capital for targeted investment in designated regions in the United States.
For the Investor, these Regional Centers are attractive because they allow for a less restrictive job creation requirement. Instead of having to prove direct job creation, the investor may show indirect job creation through such methods as economic and statistic forecasting tools.
The required investment amount is $1 million, or $500,000 if located in a rural or targeted employment area. In addition, Regional Centers typically charge additional amounts in fees.
In May 2008 USCIS announced the approval of two new centers in California. In September 2008 it announced approval of two new centers in Florida which are included below.
Regional Centers that may have been approved, but were not designated as “active” by USCIS are not included in this list.
As the status of these Regional Centers as participants in the Pilot Program can change, before investing any money, verify the center is still approved and active in the Pilot Program.
For more information on the EB-5 Immigrant Investor visa see our other article EB – 5 Permanent Residency through Investment.
Please note that this pilot program expires at the end of September 2008 unless reinstated. The program was temporarily extended until March 6, 2009 as part of Congress’ continuing budge resolution, but is awaiting Congressional approval for reinstatement for beyond that date.
In alphabetical order by state, the Regional Centers deemed “active” include:
ALABAMA
Alabama Center for Foreign Investment Regional Center
Address: RSA Union, 100 North Union Street, Suite 682, Montgomery, AL 36104
Phone/Fax: (334) 954-3111/(334) 954-3112
Website: http://www.eb5alabama.com
Geographic Area: State of Alabama.
Focus of Export/Economic Growth Activity: Heavy and light manufacturing; agriculture; high technology; construction; hospitality, resort and service industries (hotels, restaurants, resorts, golf courses, entertainment, and the like); schools, health care facilities, and infrastructure; and cruise line support services.
Point of Contact: Ronald Drinkard, Executive Director; Boyd Campbell, General Counsel
CALIFORNIA
California Consortium for Agricultural Export
Address: 333 Grand Avenue, 25thFloor, Los Angeles, CA.
Phone/Fax: (213) 892-6367/(213) 892-2267
Website: http://www.ccax.com/
Geographic Area: Nine Counties in Central California known as the San Joaquin Valley.
Focus of Export/Economic Growth Activity: An agricultural investment program purchasing and converting fallow or row crop lands into permanent commercially viable fruit and/or nut trees and grape vines for the domestic and export markets, wineries, and elevator platform machinery manufacturing.
Point of Contact: Susan Spencer, President; Kelly Spencer, Director of Marketing & Investor Relations
CMB Export LLC
Address: Corona Professional Center, 400 S. Ramona Avenue, Suite 212AA, Corona, CA 91719
Phone/fax: 800-238-8022
Website: http://www.cmbeb5visa.com/
Geographic Area: The development area is related to former military bases located in the counties of Sacramento, San Bernardino and Riverside, CA.
Focus of Export/Economic Growth Activity: Export activity related to development of military bases; air cargo, sea port development as export centers.
Point of Contact: Patrick F. Hogan, President, CMB Export LLC., 4507 49th Avenue, Moline, Illinois 61265 ; Attorney, Lincoln Stone (Stone and Grzegorek, LLP)
Los Angeles Film Regional Center
Address: CanAm Enterprises, LLC, c/o Thomas Rosenfield, 32 Court Street, Suite 1501, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Geographic Area: All projects will be located within the set of contiguous census tracts in Los Angeles County designated as a targeted employment area (TEA) by the California Employment Development Department (EDD) acting as the designated state agency by the Governor of the State of California
Focus of Export/Economic Growth Activity: Investments in the motion picture and television industry in Los Angeles County, California.
Point of Contact: Thomas Rosenfield
SoutheastLos Angeles Regional Center(SELARC)
Address: SELARC Development, LLC, c/o Lincoln Stone, Stone & Grezegorek, LLP, 800 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 900, Loss Angeles, CA 90017
Geographic Area: City of Vernon
Focus of Economic Growth Activity: Food products, apparel manufacturing, transportation and warehousing, household furniture and furnishings.
Point of Contact: David B. Brearley, Esq.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, (WASHINGTON, DC)
Capital Area Regional Center
Address: 888 16th Street, NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20006
Phone/Fax: (202) 349-9848; (202) 355-1399
Website: www.eb5dc.com
Geographic Area: Legal boundaries of the District of Columbia (Washington, DC) and the contiguous adjacent areas of Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties in Maryland, Arlington and Fairfax counties in Virginia, and the city of Alexandria, VA.
Focus of Economic Growth Activity: Mixed hotel, retail, office and residential space; a soccer stadium; conference center space, and industrial space.
Point of Contact: Michael R. Sears; John Tung
FLORIDA
New Lake Buena Vista Regional Center
Address: 15657 Apopka Vineland Road, Orlando, FL 32821
Phone/Fax: (407) 238-9301/(407) 238-9716
Website: http://www.eb5greencardusa.com/
Geographic Area: Orange, Osceola, Lake and Seminole Counties.
Focus of Export/Economic Growth Activity: Leisure and hospitality
Point of Contact: Larry Coen, Sr. Vice President, Lcohen@eb5GreenCardUSA.com
New Palm Beach Regional Center
Address: 777 South Fagler Drive, Suite 800, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone: (561) 644-1717
Website: http://wtcpalmbeach.com/
Geographic Area: Palm Beach
Focus of Export/Economic Growth Activity: Port and cargo warehousing and distribution center; intermodal traffic and cargo distribution center; manufacturing and research facilities; commercial and office space; film and TV production.
Point of Contact: Luis Haddad, President
HAWAII
Hawaii, Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism
[Note: USCIS reports that this previously designated regional center is now under suspension based on a USCIS- issued "Intent to Terminate," with an open period of time in which to respond with evidence, data and documentation necessary for reinstatement to avoid a final Action to Terminate]
Address: DBEDT, No. 1 Capitol District Bldg, 5th Floor, Diamond Head Wing, 250 South Hotel Street, Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone/Fax: 808-586-2597 / 808-586-2377
Website: http://www.hawaii.gov/dbedt
Geographic Area: Within the State of Hawaii
Focus of Export/Economic Growth Activity: Tourism (Hawaii’s major export); industries identified as export-related.
Point of Contact: Cy Feng, email: cfeng@dbedt.hawaii.gov
IOWA
Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED)
Address: 200 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50309
Phone/Fax: (515)242-4700/(515)242-4809
Website: http://www.iowalifechanging.com/
Geographic Area: 77 Rural and Small Urban Counties in Iowa.
Focus of Economic Growth Activity: Dairy farming
Point of Contact: Mr. Michael T. Blouin, Director, IDED
KANSAS
Kansas Regional Center, LLC
Address: Kansas Biofuel Regional Center, LLC, 915 Wilshire Boulevard, #2050, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Phone/Fax: (213) 380-2828/(213) 380-0570
Geographic Area: Twenty-one (21) counties located in the southwest region of the State of Kansas.
Focus of Economic Growth Activity: Building and operation of fuel grade ethanol production facilities within the geographic bounds of the regional center.
Point of Contact: Justin M. Lee and Thomas E. Kent, Esqs.
LOUISIANA
Mayor’s Office of Economic Development (New Orleans)
Address: 1515 Poydras Street, Suite 1150, New Orleans, LA 70112
Phone/Fax: 504-658-0919
Website: http://www.nobleoutreach.com/
Geographic Area: Orleans Parish and the City of New Orleans
Focus of Export/Economic Growth Activity: Leasehold Improvements to Fixed Asset Commercial Buildings Sector; Mobile Medical Services Facilities Sector; Commercial Lodging, Hotels, and Hospitality Sector; Mixed-use Real Estate Construction-Reconstruction Sector; Mixed-use Residential Lease and Rental Properties Sector; Arts and Sciences Industry Sector; Harbor Facilities Sector; Gaming and Casinos Sector; and Marine Sector (Commercial Fishing, Processing, Packing, and Shipping Facilities)
Points of Contact: Chase Story, International Liaison, 504-658-0919; Bart Hungerford & Timothy Milbrath, NobleOutreach (301) 948-0326
NEVADA
Unibex Global Corporation
[Note: USCIS report that this is regional center is currently pending re-affirmation as of October 19, 2007]
Address: 1201 Eleanor Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89106
Phone/Fax: (702) 646-7068/(702) 646-7561
Geographic Area: Within UBC’s master-planned business center in North Las Vegas, Nevada.
Focus of Economic Growth Activity: International trade, distribution, tourism and export trade, including Southwest Indian art
Point of Contact: Otis R. Harris, Chairman and CEO, UGC; Karen Sit Dorfman (702) 388-6649
PENNSYLVANIA
Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation
Address: 2600 Centre Square West, 1500 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102-2126
Phone/Fax: (215)496-8020; (215)977-9618
Website: http://www.pidc-pa.org/; http://www.canamenterprises.com/
Geographic Area: Philadelphia County, PA
Focus of Economic Growth Activity: Tourism convention and visitor services through the hotel, restaurant and hospitality industry; commercial office space renovation and leasing; merchandise import and export sales; investment in high-tech start up companies as well as information and bio-tech enterprises; and trucking and warehousing and transportation enterprises.
Point of Contact: Peter Longstreth, President; Thomas Rosenfeld, Attorney
Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development Regional Center
Address: Department of Community and Economic Development, Harrisburg, PA 17120
Phone/Fax: 718-624-7850
Website: http://www.newpa.com/
Geographic Area: The contiguous geographic area encompassing the following 23 counties of western Pennsylvania: Erie, Crawford, Mercer, Venango, Lawrence, Butler, Clarion Beaver, Armstrong, Allegheny, Indiana, Westmoreland, Washington, Greene, Fayette, Somerset, Cambria, Blair, Bedford, Warren, Forest, Jefferson and Clearfield. Also, within the above defined contiguous geographic area, the delineated Targeted Employment Areas (TEAs) within the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA); delineated TEAs within the city of Pittsburgh; and delineated TEAs within the Erie and Johnstown, Pennsylvania SMSAs.
Focus of Export/Economic Growth Activity: Concentrating on financing projects and developing commercial enterprises in the following eight target industries: Tourism and hospitality; technology; transportation; manufacturing and trade; health services; agriculture and food production; higher education; and leasehold improvements to commercial office & mixed-use spaces.
Points of Contact: Dennis Yablonsky, Secretary or James Rowley, Deputy Secretary Dept. of Community & Economic Development; Thomas Rosenfeld, Esq., President and Chief Executive Officer, CanAm Enterprises, LLC.
SOUTH DAKOTA
South Dakota International Business Institute Dairy Economic Development Region (SDIBI–DEDR)
Address: 711 East Wells Avenue, Pierre, South Dakota 57501-3369
Phone/Fax: (605)773-5032; (605)773-3256
Website: http://www.sd-exports.org/eb-5
Geographic Area: The 44 rural counties in eastern South Dakota.
Focus of Export/Economic Growth Activity: Projects to date have included agricultural-related development, in particular establishing dairy farms and a beef processing plant.
Point of Contact: Mr. Joop Bollen
TEXAS/OKLAHOMA
Southwest Biofuels Regional Center, LLC (SWBRC)
Address: 925 Wilshire Blvd, Suite #2050, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Phone/Fax: (213) 380-2898/(213) 380-0570
Geographic Area: The contiguous geographic area encompasses the 40 counties located in the northwest region of Texas, to include Dallam, Sherman, Hansford, Lipscomb, Ociltree, Hartley, Moore, Hutchinson, Roberts, Hemphill, Oldham, Potter, Carson, Gray, Wheeler, Deaf Smith, Randall, Armstrong, Donley, Collingsworth, Parmer, Castro, Swisher, Briscoe, Hall, Childress, Hardeman, Bailey, Lamb, Hale, Floyd, Motley, Cottle, Foard, Cochran, Hockley, Lubbock, Crosby, Dickens, and King counties, and 9 counties located in the western region of the State of Oklahoma, to include Cimarron, Texas, Beaver, Ellis, Roger Mills, Beckham, Greer, Harmon, and Jackson.
Focus of Export/Economic Growth Activity: The development and operation of fuel grade ethanol production facilities.
Point of Contact: Justin M. Lee, President and CEO
Global Century Development Group I, LP (Global Century)
Address: 11205 Bellaire Blvd. Suite B-33, 77072-2545, Houston, TX
Geographic Area: The contiguous geographic area of Houston’s Chinatown encompassing the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone #15 (TIRZ), a 60-block area bounded by Preston Street on the North, Dowling Street on the East, St. Joseph parkway on the South, and Chartres Street on the West.
Focus of Export/Economic Growth Activity: Concentrating on financing and developing commercial and mixed-use real estate in the following five target industries: hotel and hospitality; retail; mixed use residential; commercial office; restaurant & entertainment.
Points of Contact: Mr. Dan Nip, President, Global Century Development Group-I, LP; H. Richard Sindelar III, Esq., Tindall & Foster, P.C.
VERMONT
Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development
Address: National Life Bldg., Drawer 20, Montpelier, VT 05620
Phone: (802) 828-5202
Website: http://www.dca.state.vt.us/indexnew.html
Geographic Area: State of Vermont
Focus of Export/Economic Growth Activity: Export-related companies; tourism, hospitality and commercial resorts development.
Point of Contact: John Kessler, General Counsel
WASHINGTON
The Gateway Freedom Fund/AKA: Golden Rainbow Freedom Fund
Address: 18034 13th Street, Seattle, WA 98177
Phone/fax: 206-624-5622
Geographic Area: 1) As Golden Rainbow Freedom Fund, air cargo and manufacturing facility in Jackson County, Oregon; 2) As Gateway: City of Seattle Neighborhood Reinvestment Area in Seattle, Washington
Focus of Export/Economic Growth Activity: Air and ocean cargo facilities; and manufacturing; warehouses.
Point of Contact: Henry Liebmann, Attorney
Whatcom Opportunities Regional Center, Inc. (WORC, Inc.)
Address: P.O. Box 2803, Bellingham, WA 98227;
1305 11th Street, Suite 301, Bellingham, WA 98225
Phone: 360-201-3933
Website: http://www.worc.biz/
Geographic Area: The legal boundaries which constitute Whatcom County, Washington.
Focus of Economic Growth Activity: Capital investments and job creation in assisted living facilities for the elderly within Whatcom County.
Point of Contact: Rob Pochert, CEcD, EDFP, Executive Director; K. David Andersson, Attorney
Aero-Space Port International Group [ASPI Group]
[Note: USCIS report that this is regional center is currently pending re-affirmation as of October 19, 2007]Address: 512 Strander Boulevard, Tukwila, WA 98188;Phone/fax: 206-241-8000; 243-3000Website: http://www.aspigroup.com/
Geographic Area: Within ASPI Group, located at Grant County International Airport in Moses Lake
Focus of Export/Economic Growth Activity: High tech, agricultural and other export products to Europe and Pacific Rim countries through international air cargo facilities.
Point of Contact: Andy Chen, Executive Vice President & CFO; Kim Foster, Corporate Counsel
WISCONSIN
Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC)
Address: 756 N. Milwaukee Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Phone/fax: 414-287-4100
Website: http://www.mmac.org/
Geographic Area: The seven (7) counties of southeastern Wisconsin: Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington, and Waukesha (including Targeted Employment Areas within the cities of Racine and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Focus of Export/Economic Growth Activity: Business and professional services; financial activities and business process services; health services and medical technology; manufacturing; printing and printing support; wholesale trade and distribution; and hospitality and entertainment.
Point of Contact: Timothy R. Sheehy, President; Peter Beitzel, Vice President Metropolitan Milwaukee Assoc. of Commerce
