The Definition of a RURAL TEA:
- An area not located within a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) as designated by the Office of Management and Budget;
- Or the outer boundary of any city or town having a population of 20,000 or more based on the most recent census.
What does a rural TEA mean for industry professionals and investors?
The RIA Act of 2022 created a unique set aside for areas designated as RURAL.
A project that is located in a rural TEA qualifies for priority processing of Form I-526 by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. These investors will qualify for set-aside visas from the rural TEA classification, which makes up 20% of the yearly allocation of EB-5 visas.
EB-5 MARKET IN ARIZONA: Arizona is a significant EB-5 market. As of May 2020, Arizona has 9 approved regional centers listed by USCIS.
ARIZONA ECONOMY: The Economy of Arizona had a total gross state product of $373 billion in 2020.[1] The composition of the state’s economy is moderately diverse; although health care, transportation and the government remain the largest sectors.
The state’s per capita income is $40,828, ranking 39th in the U.S. The state had a median household income of $50,448, making it 22nd in the country and just below the U.S. national mean.[2] Early in its history, Arizona’s economy relied on the “five C’s”: copper (see Copper mining in Arizona), cotton, cattle, citrus, and climate (tourism). Copper is still extensively mined from many expansive open-pit and underground mines, accounting for two-thirds of the nation’s output.
RURAL TEA COUNTIES IN ARIZONA:
- Apache
Gila
Graham
Greenlee
La Paz
Navajo
Santa Cruz
INTERACTIVE RURAL TEA MAP
