
The first step for a Project’s evaluation is determining the minimum investment amount under the EB-5 Program. A Targeted Employment Area (TEA) may be a Rural Area or a High Unemployment Area as designated by the appropriate state authority. The Project’s site and contiguous census tracts are evaluated for TEA status to determine minimum EB-5 investor capital contribution amount. We utilize the latest published unemployment statistics to determine TEA eligibility.
The required EB-5 investment amount is lowered from $1 million to $500,000 dollars if the EB-5 project is conducted in a targeted employment area. In order to be designated as a TEA, the EB-5 project must be located in either a rural area or in a location that has high unemployment.
The map below demonstrates highlighted census tracts which currently qualify and TEAs. As one can see, the City of San Diego and even areas downtown meet the requirements.