What is a regional center?

An EB-5 Regional Center is an organization, designated and regulated by USCIS to facilitate investment in job-creating economic development projects by pooling capital raised under the EB-5 immigrant investor program. Regional Centers can be publicly owned, (e.g. by a city, state, or regional economic development agency), privately owned, or be a public-private partnership.

• Regional Centers are effective in maximizing the program’s job creation benefits by pooling together investment of significant amounts of capital in large-scale projects. These projects are often in coordination with other regional economic development agencies which use EB-5 funds to leverage additional capital for greater impact.
• Regional Centers use economic analysis models, including those developed by the U.S. Department of Commerce to demonstrate that job creation targets required by law have been achieved. For investments made through Regional Centers, at least 10 direct, indirect or induced jobs must be created.
• All investment offerings made by EB-5 Regional Centers are subject to U.S. securities laws, enforced by state securities regulators and the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission.
• Identify investment opportunities with potential for job creation for local communities, often in partnership with economic development agencies.
• Market those investment opportunities to interested investors from around the world.
• Ensure that the investment offering complies with federal and state securities laws and SEC regulations as well as specific EB-5 requirements.