The best rural EB-5 projects to think about in 2024

As the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program continues to bring in foreign investors who want to live in the U.S. permanently, rural projects have become more popular because they require less money to invest and have a big effect on the community. For 2024, there are a number of EB-5 rural projects that look like they could bring in a lot of money and help the town. This in-depth look at some of the best EB-5 country projects to think about this year focuses on their unique benefits and chances of success.

One type of project that stands out is the growth of renewable energy, especially wind and solar power. But investors who want to put their money into traditional energy sources can make a lot of money by investing in oil and gas projects in rural places. Creating new drilling sites, expanding current infrastructure, or building refineries are common parts of these kinds of projects. The energy sector is a good choice for EB-5 investors because it requires a lot of money up front and has the potential to make money over the long run. Also, these projects create a lot of jobs, from geologists and engineers to administrative and support roles, which is great for the local businesses.

Agricultural technology (AgTech) projects are becoming more popular as great EB-5 country investments, along with oil and gas projects. Using new technologies in farming, like precise agriculture, automated irrigation, and sustainable crop management, can make things a lot more productive and efficient. With their large amounts of farms, rural areas are perfect places to try out these new ideas. AgTech projects not only increase the amount of food that can be grown, but they also offer a wide range of jobs, from fieldwork to tech support and management.

Developing tourism and hotel businesses in rural areas is another great way to make money in 2024. A lot of tourists, both domestic and foreign, can be drawn to projects like eco-friendly resorts, adventure tourism centers, and cultural heritage places. This influx of tourists brings money into local economies, which helps companies like shops, restaurants, and transportation services. The growing popularity of “experiential travel” makes this area even more likely to give investors a good return on their money.

Another high-impact investment choice is to build new healthcare facilities in rural areas. Residents of many rural areas have bad health outcomes because their healthcare offerings aren’t good enough. Investing in the building or expanding of hospitals, clinics, and specialized care centers can close this gap and give people who aren’t getting enough care the services they need. These projects improve the health and well-being of the community as a whole while also giving jobs to medical professionals, office workers, and support staff. A steady return on investment is guaranteed by the constant need for healthcare services.

Manufacturing and transportation hubs are also becoming more appealing as EB-5 rural projects. More facilities are needed in rural areas because supply lines are becoming less centralized and regional manufacturing skills are becoming more important. There are big economic benefits to investing in factories, warehouses, and other infrastructure that goes with them. A lot of jobs are created by these projects, ranging from skilled industry jobs to logistics and transportation jobs. In addition, they help rural areas become less reliant on a single business by spreading out their economic base.

Another good place to spend is in the growth of educational institutions in rural areas. Building campuses for technical schools, universities, and vocational training centers can bring in people from other areas, which is good for the local economy. These institutions give local people access to good education and training chances while also creating jobs for teachers, administrative staff, and support staff. Thus, a more skilled work force can come about, which can bring more companies and capital to the area.

In conclusion, 2024 is a great year for buyers who are interested in EB-5 rural projects. The best projects to think about are those that use renewable energy, work with oil and gas, come up with new AgTech ideas, help with tourism and hospitality, grow healthcare, create industrial and logistics hubs, and build schools. Each of these areas has its own benefits, such as high demand, the chance to make a lot of money, and projects that are good for the environment and society. Investors can meet their immigration goals and make a real difference in rural areas by carefully choosing and putting money into these projects. 

The post How Does the EB-5 Program Contribute to US Economic Development? appeared first on Programming Insider.

Under the roadmap, diligently prepared by season’s college counselors and admissions specialists stands a comprehensive guide that will ensure that your junior year is beyond being merely a phase in the process to be transformed into pathways leading towards your expectations for higher learning.

1. Academic Planning:

 At the beginning of your junior year checklist, establish an assessment of the academic ends and strengths. Make certain that your class choices are based on the preferences of your projected colleges by speaking to a guidance counselor at your school before making any final decisions. It can also be recommended to adventure yourself in Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) classes which will prove your scholarly capacity on graduate school applications.

2. Standardized Testing: 

The best period to get ready for these prominent standardized tests like SAT and ACT is junior year. Take SAT/ACT prep courses, join collective strategy consulting sessions with peers, and get individually tailored coaching assistance from a 1-to-1 tutor. Plan your study time to have enough and regular time before the actual examination date, so that you may acquire the required skills and confidence levels in each sub-part of the major topics.

3. College List Selection: 

Work diligently with your faculty advisers in choosing the right colleges based on both your courses and personal standards. Location must supply the answer, campus dignity is important and so are available majors. Consider seeking advice on whether early decisions or regular applications are more suitable for achieving your college objectives.

4. Resume Development: 

A great resume is one of the techniques to book a job sought after since it will depict how you are leading and your initiative. Solicit helps in developing a resume that showcases your individuality and emphasizes how you may benefit college communities created by fresh new fields.

5. Application Strategy: 

Know the interactions of the CA, COAL, or specific university applications. Start gathering inclusive items such as transcripts, letters of recommendation, and SAT or ACT scores. Ask for guidance to form your unique application strategy, which should emphasize your strengths and achievements.

6. Essay Writing Help: 

Carry out activities related to brainstorming, in which you search for themes of your essay that would reflect the nature of your personality and dreams. Gain priceless comments handy dandy the application essays and personal statements to make sure they appeal to admissions brats. Write captivating essays that will make you stand out from your competition.

7. Interview Preparation: 

Since you should practice for college and scholarship interviews, taking part in mock interview sessions is recommended. Get helpful tips and techniques on getting prepared to look confident. Make use of alumni interview guidelines available otherwise not public, to refine your interview skills.

8. Financial Aid/Scholarships: 

Get assistance and guidance when going through the financial aid process to ensure one’s finished FAFSA, CSS Profile forms, etc. Identify scholarship applications and know what they entail, find scholarships as well get help in preparing for the program which will bring you a good yield. Your college course should not be shrouded in uncertainty when it comes to the financial aspects of the whole journey.

9. Major/Career Exploration: 

Evaluate yourself based on your preferences and unique features. Get tips for linking your passions with suggested college majors. Collaborate with the professors to find possible career perspectives and learn how your chosen major will help you achieve long-term objectives.

10. Study Skills Workshops: 

Develop better study skills through workshops on time efficiency, organization, note-taking, reading strategies, or retaining the materials read. Create approaches that will not only make your performance in high school superior but also provide an adequate groundwork for college-level curriculum.

11. Gap Year Planning: 

It is wise for those who are planning to take their gap year(s) to get advice on practically how they should make great use of time in the right order. Pet Terms, a wellness and charity pet store in India has several gap year activities that you can engage in to align your passion with long-term goals.

12. Intro to High School: 

A two-and-a-half-year plan for high school success can also outline some milestones that need to be achieved per semester. Apply rewards with a preview of college applications and discover how early preparation can positively play out in your academic success.

Conclusion:

As you persistently adhere to this junior year checklist, be well-prepared to take on the rigors and grinds of the college admission process at large. With the proper education, starting with how experienced college consultants and admissions professionals will ensure that even one aspect of your application differs from all the others — not only does this deliver you to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity but also secures your subsequent success in academic matters.

The post Mapping Success: The College Prep Junkie Checklist for Junior Year appeared first on Programming Insider.

Giving Tuesday is a global movement the Tuesday after Thanksgiving that encourages generosity and acts of kindness. It was established in 2012 by New York’s 92^nd Street Y in partnership with the United Nations Foundation to inspire people to contribute to the individuals and the organizations they stand behind. And Christiane Maertens is the founder and CEO of two companies: DoGoodery, a consulting agency that creates and executes social consciousness initiatives with brands who have an authentic commitment to doing good; and Valor Bebidas, the tequila that strives to leave a positive impact on the environment and the people involved in crafting the brand.

Maertens has devoted her career to building enterprises that prioritize sustainability and human-centered values.

“My parents are both immigrants. My Dad was from Germany and my mother is from El Salvador, and by growing up with parents who are immigrants we naturally took care of things,” remembered Christiane Maertens. “We were very sustainable without it being cool. We recycled, we reused things, and as a kid I got very involved with environmental volunteer work. Ultimately, it was my father who suggested that I go into some type of environmental science, which at the time, the early ‘90s, was really non-existent.”

Morphing from an originally planned career in Washington, D.C. as a lobbyist for causes she cared about, Maertens landed at the Walt Disney Company in the environmental policy group. After a seven-year stint spearheading youth campaigns and the media and entertainment conglomerate’s first social responsibility portfolio, her next position was as a Deputy Director at the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), where she built their corporate partnership portfolio and learned how to do business development.

When the idea to form her own company came up in 2018, Maertens realized there was a need for corporations to have consulting agencies that did strategic planning centered around social impact and sustainability.

Enter DoGoodery

“Originally, DoGoodery was conceived as a social impact production company,” noted Maertens. “Storytelling is certainly a component of all the work that we do, but after my father died it became clear to me that I wanted to do more than just production. DoGoodery was formed in 2019 with the goal of creating and executing initiatives to improve lives and reduce inequity. We started with two clients, building from there, and Amazon approached us during the pandemic to do a website for them. When I saw what they were trying to do around educational initiatives with Amazon Studios, I pitched this idea of letting us build out this ecosystem for them. That was a game changer.”

“At DoGoodery, our team works with various clients to help companies be more intentional about their corporate responsibilities and how they engage and impact the communities that they serve,” noted Maertens. “A bright and shiny marketing campaign certainly has its purpose too. But if you are trying to reflect systemic change, we work with all types of companies to develop responsible and innovative strategies.”

“One client I am really excited about right now is the National Wildlife Federation, who hired us to help them with their fundraising communications strategy, among other things,” she said. “And a very important client for us since the beginning is Underwriters Laboratories (UL), which we are working with on a public raising campaign centered around lithium-ion batteries.”

Overall, DoGoodery crosses all business sectors with a client list that also includes Southern California Gas, California Water Service and WarnerMedia. This foothold in environmental sustainability by its founder resulted in the acquisition of Christiane Maertens’ second company, Valor Bebidas.

Enter Valor Bebidas

Coming Up

On Giving Tuesday, Valor is launching the Gente Buena Foundation, which is committed to collaboration and community-driven impact to champion sustainable growth and shared wealth in Mexico. The first ad campaign, “Valor Mi Amor,” is running across digital. And the approach of the foundation is to partner with local communities, academic institutions, and non-governmental organizations to identify impact priorities.

The post Giving Back: Christiane Maertens Strives for Connection, Collaboration and Environmental Sustainability in Business appeared first on Programming Insider.

Industry plays a crucial role in the Japanese economy. Japan leads globally in producing automobiles, electronics, chemicals, and other goods. The Japanese industry excels due to its high level of automation and use of advanced technologies, enabling to produce top-tier products at competitive prices.

However, Japan’s economy does encounter challenges. A significant one is its high dependence on exports, making it vulnerable to global economic changes. Moreover, recent years have seen problems in the fields of labor and employment, including job cuts, decrease in the workforce and rising unemployment. The latter can be attributed to migration from rural to urban areas. Additionally, environmental pollution issues could impact investment and hinder economic growth. Recent political changes in Japan, such as changes in government and electoral reforms, may also add to the country’s economic stability.

Despite these hurdles, Japan’s economy continues to move forward. In recent years, the Japanese government has implemented measures to boost economic growth, such as increasing investment in infrastructure and education, as well as improving conditions for small and medium-sized businesses. 

Japan consistently invests in technology and innovation, which contributes to the economic development. However, it can also lead to increased research and development costs, potentially reducing competitiveness in the global market. The economy has lately seen growth, although it has been somewhat uneven, influenced by export earnings and investments in infrastructure.

All these factors ultimately affect the exchange rate of the Japanese Yen (USD JPY). The rate carries weight with international investors and businesspeople working with Japan, having impact on the value of Japanese assets like stocks and real estate, along with the prices of Japanese goods sold abroad.

It’s worth noting that the USD JPY currency pair ranks second in terms of trading volume, following only the EUR USD, which is known for its liquidity.

Throughout 2023, there has been an upward trend in the exchange rate following a correction last year. The suggested growth of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) could lead to an even bigger increase in the exchange rate.

However, the primary factor to watch is the inflation rate. The market has frozen in anticipation, with almost all traders preparing to sell. Lingering concerns lean towards weakening, aligning with bearish sentiments.

Japan’s struggle with inflation is somewhat of a running joke. Despite being highly developed, it isn’t immune to inflation woes. Between 1985 and 2014, inflation rate in Japan lagged behind other developed countries, prompting low-interest rates and low returns on investment assets. However, starting 2020 inflation began to rise and reached unprecedented levels in 2022.

A catalyst for Japan’s inflation is low labor productivity coupled with high labor costs. To combat inflation, the Japanese government initiated various measures, including lowered import taxes and increased infrastructure spending. Structural reforms were introduced to reduce reliance on foreign investors while boosting domestic investor participation.

Nevertheless, despite these efforts, inflation continues to rise. In 2022, inflation in Japan reached 4.3%, marking the highest level in 25 years. Factors also include elevated energy and commodity prices, increased spending on social welfare and healthcare.

Thus, grappling with inflation remains an ongoing challenge for Japan. The government must persist in financial system reforms, reduce reliance on external investors, enhance labor productivity, and curb labor costs. 

Returning to the USD JPY rate, from a technical standpoint, concerns about a decline are well-founded. The price is approaching the historical resistance of 147.00-150.00. 

Roughly speaking, this level is critical for all market participants. Its breakdown will mark a new stage in the development of the currency pair and will open the path for systematic growth. 

Conversely, a downward bounce would maintain a balance between supply and demand, consolidating the price within a horizontal channel around 127.00. 

So watch it closely if you see Japanese market as a great addition to your portfolio. However, do not forget that technical and fundamental analyses should go prior to any investment decisions. 

The post Yen and Beyond: Japan’s Inflation Impact on USD JPY appeared first on Programming Insider.