FirstPathway Weblog

FirstPathway Partners (FPP) is proud to announce its sponsorship of the Invest in America 2011 Guangzhou Summit, Saturday March 19 – Sunday March 20, 2011. During the summit, industry experts including featured keynote speaker Bob Kraft, FPP Chairman and CEO, will share insight into the dynamic EB5 program. In addition summit participant will be eligible to attend an exclusive seminar hosted by the Chairman himself. Join thousands of business executives, investors and migration agents in attending the Invest in America 2011 Guangzhou Summit, this spring.

The summit will be this year’s largest American investment exhibition in China. The two-day exhibition will take place at the five-star Guangzhou Grand Hyatt Hotel’s first-class exhibition hall. In addition to visiting individual booths, attendees will have an opportunity to attend seminars, workshops, and private meetings with FirstPathway Partners.

For more information about the Summit, log on http://investAmerica2011.org.

Milwaukee- On Tuesday March 16, 2010 the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Ningbo Sub-Council (CCPIT) in joint with the China Chamber of Commerce Ningbo Chamber (CCOIC) finalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce ( MMAC ).

In a closed meeting, CCPIT/CCOIC Chairman Zhengwei Gu and MMAC President Tim Sheehy signed an MOU which aims to bridge cultural, trade and economic exchange between Ningbo, China and Milwaukee, USA. Ningbo is Milwaukee’s informal sister city.

Other attendees were the Chief of the Ningbo Department of International Exhibition Mr. Wei FU, Milwaukee Deputy Commissioner Martha Brown, MMAC Vice President Peter Beitzel, Ningbo Ambassador to the United States Bangjie He, FPP Chairman and CEO Bob Kraft, FPP Partner Dick Zagorski, and attorneys Julie Lee and Tom Gehl.

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Milwaukee- a city which name comes from the Native American phrase “Gathering place by the water” lived up to its reputation when the United Nations designated Milwaukee as a U.N. Global Compact City last April 28, 2009.

This distinction from the United Nations makes Milwaukee one of the cities worldwide recognized as an international hub of water technology. This designation challenges Milwaukee to be an example in managing clean water.

Championing this program, the Milwaukee Water Council was created by the leaders of business and education in the region to create synergies between water companies and research centers. The Water Council, which uses its extensive relationships with businesses, universities and politicians, aims to boost the region’s economy and refresh its economic image. The water sector is expected to grow  around the world.

Aside from giving Milwaukee a chance to be recognized on a global scale, this designation from the United Nations should provide a wealth of opportunity for EB-5 investor immigrants.

On Wednesday April, 1^st 2009 Zhang Yingxin, Deputy Director General, of the Investment Promotion Agency of the Ministry of Commerce for the Peoples Republic of China (CIPA), was proud to announce the successful results yielded by its 2007 memorandum of understanding with Wisconsin. The CIPA’s charge is to engage the Chinese investment promotion process through foreign direct investment both in and from China.

In her recent letter to Wisconsin Department of Commerce Secretary Leinenkugel, Yingxin commented on the importance of “coordinating international efforts and enhancing cooperation” especially in times of economic turmoil. Yingxin also cited ties between allies, like Wisconsin and China, as vital in such times. China is Wisconsin’s third largest trading partner.

Later this month Governor Doyle, Secretary Leinenkugel, and our own Bob Kraft will meet with the CIPA delegation to discuss investment synergies and perform local field visits. The state of Wisconsin is honored to host such an influential and cooperative economic partner.

Over forty high-profile investors attended a conference on EB-5 investments hosted by Bob Kraft and agents, Andy Liu, Jane & Felix Wang of Donghu on Thursday, March 26th through the 29th.  Seminar topics included: the joys of immigrating to the U.S., a global survey of citizenship investment programs and the benefits of taking advantage of FirstPathway Partners’ Citizenship Fund.  This fruitful trip did not only yield several applicants but also served to solidify partnerships with our world-class agent network.

While in China, Mr. Kraft also enjoyed a trip to The Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area (TEDA) on the Beijing–Tianjin Intercity Rail where he visited the expansion sites and learned about the ongoing city developments.

Bob would furthermore like to commend all of the staff at First Pathway Partners Shanghai for their impeccable service standards and hospitality.

FirstPathway Partners is excited to announce the launch of its latest EB5 offering at the $500,000 level!  We have been working hard to designate more $500,000 investment areas in the Milwaukee Zone and we now have 3 large areas in the heart of the city where $500,000 investments can be made.  The designation applies to the Park East area, a large strip of land owned by Milwaukee County in Downtown Milwaukee, the Pabst Brewery Redevelopment (www.thebrewerymke.com), and the Menomonee Valley, home to Potawatomi Casino (www.paysbig.com) and many manufacturing and distribution operations.  All of the areas contain many great investments for our EB5 investors, so we are excited about extending the $500,000 option to them. The application fee for this half-million dollar investment is $50,000.
The accessibility of FirstPathway Partners’ unparalleled services at the $500,000 investment level is exciting news for investors and for the program as it continues to grow.  Contact a FirstPathway representative today to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity.

Bill Majcher, associate and friend of FirstPathway Partners was recently part of a front page story in the Business section of “The Province”, a Vancouver Newspaper.  Bill is the managing director of international business for the Baron Group, one of Hong Kong’s largest investment banks and they recently opened an office in Vancouver.  To read the full story, check out the link below.

http://www.theprovince.com/business/Hong+Kong+bank+seizes+moment/1259556/story.html

FirstPathway Citizenship Fund to Create Jobs from Foreign Investment

FirstPathway Citizenship Fund was recently sanctioned by the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce as qualified vehicle for foreign investors seeking to use the Department of Homeland Security EB5 Program to immigrate to the United States.

To qualify for citizenship under the EB5 program, a foreign investor must invest a minimum of $1,000,000 in a designated Regional Center.This investment must create at least ten jobs for U.S. workers.

The EB5 Program began in the early-1990’s as a means to use foreign investment to create jobs for U.S. workers.The seven-county Milwaukee area became a designated Regional Center for EB5 investment in May 2007.

The $200 million FirstPathway Citizenship Fund pools the foreign investors’ money and places it in qualified real estate development projects within the Milwaukee Region.Typical projects include:

1.Milwaukee International Trade Center (In the abandoned Pabst Brewery complex)

2.The Renaissance ClubSport Hotel & Fitness Resort (A 4-star boutique-style hotel and 70,000+ square foot, resort-style fitness facility)

3.The Hotel Palomar (A 4-star hotel and condominium project in the heart of downtown Milwaukee)

4.The Aloft Hotel (A smaller boutique hotel located on Milwaukee’s scenic Riverwalk)

FirstPathway Citizenship Fund is operated by FirstPathway Partners, a limited partnership, Robert W. Kraft, Chairman.

For more information, visit our website at www.firstpathway.com

Or contact Robert Kraft at     414-791-6968