from the American Community Survey) and data from the
Bureau of Labor Statistics (including data from the Local Area
Unemployment Statistics).
A state government may designate a Metropolitan Statistical
Area (MSA), county, city or town of 25,000 plus (all cities and
towns in New England), where official data is published on
a regular basis, as a targeted employment area based on high
unemployment. The state government may also designate a
geographic or political subdivision such as a small city or town,
census designated place (CDP), census tract, block group,
ward, or city community area as a targeted employment area
based on high unemployment. A state can combine contiguous
combinations of smaller geographic areas such as census tracts,
block groups, and wards where data can be derived through
acceptable government methodologies, but cannot combine
larger areas such as cities, towns and CDP’s. Where a proposed
TEA crosses MSA boundaries, the total combination of
contiguous census tracts or block groups cannot exceed 12. A
water-based census tract with no or limited land mass and no
population cannot be included as part of any TEA unless it
serves as a connector.
Rural Area
A rural area is defined as any area not within either a MSA or
any city or town having a population of 20,000 or more based
on the most recent decennial census of the United States; or
Any census tract within either a MSA or any city or town
having a population of 20,000 or more that is:
•
Not within an urbanized area of 50,000 or more population as defined by the most recent decennial census; and
•
Is greater than 100 square miles; and
•
Has a population density of fewer than 25 people per
square mile.
USCIS will defer to state determinations of the appropriate
boundaries of a geographic or political subdivision that
constitutes the targeted employment area. However, for all
TEA designations, USCIS will have final authority by ensuring
compliance with the statutory requirement that the proposed
area designated by the state in fact has an unemployment
rate of at least 150 percent of the national average rate and
that the state used proper methodologies in obtaining the
unemployment statistics.
WWW.EB5INVESTORS.COM
★
Elliot Winer is the founder of Northeast Economic Analysis Group and Winer Economic
Consulting. He has extensive expertise in
evaluating potential TEAs, and has received
over 700 TEA designations in 35 states. Prior
to NEEAG, Winer worked as a labor economist for the state of Massachusetts as the
chief supervisor of economic research for the
Department of Workforce Development, and
later director of economic analysis and chief
economist. He is a member of the Associated
Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) Executive
Advisory Board.
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