EB-5 Program and Project News
“The John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital was the first one that truly understood just how important the feature [the Winter Garden] would be. I understand that there is no ‘patient care’ on the fifth floor, meaning that it is truly a form of escapism for people.”
A new smart tool technology that allows surgeons to perform complex movements deep inside the abdomen was used for the first time in the U.S. in September during two procedures performed by Department of Surgery faculty members.
Dr. Kathryn Bass, left, is pleased with the progress Molly Brand, pictured with her parents David and Tricia Brand, have made since the toddler was burned and treated with amnion stem cells in April. (Mark Mulville/Buffalo News)
Experts have looked at the future of health care in Western New York and the prognosis is positive. That was the conclusion presented to more than 160 first- and second-year medical students in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences who attended a panel discussion centered on a reportcalled “The Future of Medicine.”
“Orchard Park Girl Scouts spent several days sanding, drilling and building life-size games to donate to patients at a Buffalo hospital to achieve their Silver Award.
The Scouts, of Troop 30517, spent more than a week building life-size versions of Jenga, Yahtzee and tic-tac-toe to donate to John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital.”
“For one week, 47 doctors will trade scalpels and stethoscopes for strings and reeds.
On Sunday, doctor-musicians from seven countries and 16 states headed to Buffalo for a week of intensive coaching, rehearsal and chamber performance under the guidance of Music Director JoAnn Falletta, Resident Conductor Stefan Sanders and the musicians of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.
The doctors will give two special performances while they are in town. On Wednesday, several of the chamber music groups will perform for the patients, families and staff at Oishei Children's Hospital. These performances are part of the hospital's groundbreaking Healing Arts Initiative, which serves as an extension of the community, bringing performances and visual artworks into the hospital to promote healing and wellness. The BPO has been a key partner in this initiative since 2014.”
“Special honors were presented to Howard Saperston Jr., Saperston Real Estate chairman, with a lifetime achievement award and the John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital was selected as this year’s “Golden Brick” recipient.”
Sebastian Bradley, a Buffalo native, was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in 2016 at age 7. During his long battle with cancer, he took a Lego set everywhere he went. He began Sebastian's LEGO Club at Oishei in January this year.
Donations of new Lego sets can be left in the collection boxes at the Youngstown Free Library or in the main vestibule of St. Peter R.C. Church in Lewiston throughout the month of July.
“BUFFALO, N.Y. — Learning how to code and program technology can sound like a foreign language to many, but for 10 freshmen at Health Sciences Charter School, they now have a better understanding with the world of STEM and programming and coding.
With the help of Bak USA and Thimble, students learned how to program any of 12 mini-projects, like a doorbell or nightlight.
…
And during the workshop, students learn what types of careers this technology can be applied to, inspiring them to continue learning with this technology.”
London, England, June 21st and 22nd, 2018
Bill Gresser, President of EB-5 New York State, LLC will speak on two panels related to the EB-5 Program and Conducting Business in the USA during the BLS Media London 2018 Global Investment Immigration Summit.
Bill will provide background information on the EB-5 program, discuss the benefits of EB-5, explain various aspects that should be considered in choosing an EB-5 project/regional center and emphasize the importance of investor repayment.
Bill has been active in the EB-5 industry since founding EB-5 New York State in 2007, and currently sits on the industry’s trade association, IIUSA, as its Vice President. Bill speaks regularly on EB-5 topics at events around the world.
If you are in London during this time and would like to meet with Bill, please email Phoebe Gresser at peg@eb5nys.com.
If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Phoebe Gresser at peg@eb5nys.com.
###
“Rolling through the hallways of Oishei Children’s Hospital is the newest addition to its hospitality services – the “Happy Wheels” cart. Its unique song lets families know that toys, games, toiletries, and refreshments are on the way during what can be long and unexpected hospital stays.”
Health Sciences Charter School has announced a new Head of School.
The Board of Trustees has appointed veteran educator Wendy Richards, the former Director of the Aloma D. Johnson Charter School and an Adjunct Professor in Urban Education at Canisius College.
“I am looking forward to working with the talented teachers and staff at Health Sciences Charter School,” said Richards. “Over the past nine years, Health Sciences has established a unique program focusing on pathways for high school students interested in careers in healthcare. With its impressive graduation rate that exceeds that state average, I am eager to build on the school’s success and expand vital programs for our students.”
“Former Buffalo Bills punter Brian Moorman, taking a break in John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital, thinks merging his PUNT Foundation for children with cancer with the Children’s Hospital foundation will give it greater fundraising ability to help more families.”
“Syracuse, N.Y. - Original Grain, the cafe that brought smoothies, seaweed wraps and poke bowls to downtown, is expanding into Rochester.
The new Original Grain is going into Tower 280 at Midtown, a redeveloped building in Rochester with floors of luxury apartments, office space and retail shops. OG owner Chris Bily said he hopes to open in early fall.”
“Following reviews by the American College of Surgeons, two Buffalo hospitals have again received verification as Level 1 trauma centers.
Both Erie County Medical Center and Kaleida Health's John R. Oishei Children's Hospital were reviewed by the organization's verification review committee, which oversees the ability to provide care for injured patients. They are also the only two hospitals designated at Level 1 for trauma by the state Department of Health for the Western New York region. A Level I Trauma Center is capable of providing total care for every aspect of injury – from prevention through rehabilitation, according to the American Trauma Society.”
“Kathy Nuebel Kovarik, Chief of the USCIS Office of Policy and Strategy, delivered a keynote address to kick off IIUSA’s 11th Annual EB-5 Advocacy Conference in Washington, DC... Ms. Kovarik reinforced her department’s position that they will try to get EB-5 regulatory reform done this year, as indicated on the Unified Regulatory Agenda. Items of the regulation that she spoke about were the targeted employment area (TEA) designation and increases in investment amounts.”
Washington, D.C., April 24, 2018
Bill Gresser, President of EB-5 New York State, LLC, was re-elected to serve as the Vice President of Invest In the USA (IIUSA) during the 11th Annual EB-5 Advocacy Conference. EB-5 New York State is very proud of the work that Bill does with IIUSA to protect, improve and grow the EB-5 program.
During his last year serving as Vice President of IIUSA, Bill worked as a key advocate of the EB-5 program. He has spent the last year working to gain support for the EB-5 program in the US Congress, as well as reforms to improve the EB-5 program and to foster industry unity on best practices.
EB-5 New York State sends our warmest congratulations to Bill’s fellow IIUSA board members that were elected to serve in other IIUSA leadership positions.
To learn more about the work that IIUSA does on behalf of the EB-5 industry and receive updates on IIUSA’s work, visit https://iiusa.org.
If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Phoebe Gresser at peg@eb5nys.com.
###
Sao Paulo, Brazil, April 12, 2018
Bill Gresser, President of EB-5 New York State, LLC, spoke on the panel “Where Do We Go From Here? The Future of the Brazilian Markets and EB-5” during the EB-5 Investors Magazine Sao Paulo 2018 EB-5 Expo.
EB-5 New York State is proud to have many successful Brazilian EB-5 investors in our EB-5 projects.
Bill and his fellow panelists discussed the key drivers for the growing interest in EB-5 among Brazilian investors. They emphasized the importance of the Brazilian market as the fastest growing EB-5 market in the world.
Bill also explained the EB-5 program, the EB-5 process, and our current EB-5 investment projects that are available to EB-5 investors from Brazil and Latin America. Over 500 people were predicted to attend the EB-5 Investors Magazine Sao Paulo 2018 EB-5 Expo, including over 250 organizations from Brazil and greater Latin America.
If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Phoebe Gresser at peg@eb5nys.com.
###
March 26, 2018 – We are excited to announce that Bill Gresser, President of EB-5 New York State, LLC and Vice President of IIUSA has been nominated to receive the EB-5 Hero award during the IIUSA EB-5 Industry Achievement Banquet.
The EB-5 Hero award celebrates “a true hero of EB-5 – someone who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to promote and follow IIUSA’s Code of Conduct and live our values of being guardians of ethics, embody professionalism, are fair and reliable, campions of the code and committed to fostering an industry that is adherent to best practices.”
EB-5 New York State is incredibly proud of the work that Bill has done and continues to do on behalf of the EB-5 industry.
The IIUSA EB-5 Industry Achievement Banquet will be held on April 22, 2018 in Washington, DC, prior to the start of the IIUSA EB-5 Advocacy Conference.
If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Phoebe Gresser at peg@eb5nys.com.
###
"The $270 million John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital in Buffalo is a new 410,000 sf, 185-bed facility that is the regional perinatal center and ACS Level 1 pediatric trauma center.
The Shepley Bulfinch-designed facility, which is the first freestanding pediatric health facility in New York, includes a 64-bed private room neonatal intensive care unit, labor and delivery unit, joint pediatric hematology/oncology unit, and comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services. The facility replaces the 125-year-old Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo."
"BUFFALO (WKBW) - A big weekend is on the way for all of us here at Channel 7 as we get ready to host the 56th Annual Variety Kids Telethon on Sunday.
All money raised benefits local children's non-profits here at home and the Robert Warner Rehabilitation Center at Oishei Children's Hospital. 7 Eyewitness News Anchor Jeff Russo takes us inside."
Op-ed written by Bob Barr, former representative of Georgia’s Seventh District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003.
"There is, however, one program that, over the course of its quarter century existence, has delivered consistently on its promise of bringing lawful immigrants to our shores as investors and job creators: the EB-5 visa program (“EB-5” is shorthand for the fifth category of employment-based immigrant visas).
...
Reauthorized repeatedly since its inception in 1990, the EB-5 program currently is again under consideration. The program works. It meets every positive criteria the administration has laid out for immigration reform. Reauthorizing and expanding the EB-5 visa program must be part and parcel of any DACA legislation or other immigration-focused legislation. Failure to do so should not be an option."
"Congress passed and the President signed a short-term spending package that includes a clean extension of EB-5 until March 23, 2018."
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) - Oishei Children's Hospital and the Buffalo Zoo have partnered to create Zoo TV for young patients.
Zoo TV is a feed of cameras at the zoo streamed directly to TVs in patient rooms. The webcam system allows patients to scroll through different zoo animal feeds.
The feeds are also accessible in playrooms on each floor and on mobile devices while in the hospital.
According to a Children's Hospital spokesperson, "the interactive application was created with the goal of enhancing patient experience, reducing patients' anxiety and redirecting their focus during hospital stays."
Las Vegas, NV, January 27, 2018
Bill Gresser, President of EB-5 New York State, LLC and Vice President of IIUSA participated on the very popular panel “EB-5 Legislative Policy Update” during the annual EB-5 Investors Magazine conference in Las Vegas, NV.
The panel included:
- Bill Gresser, EB-5 New York State, LLC
- Angelique Brunner, EB5 Capital
- Daniel Healy, Civitas Capital Group
- Enrique Gonzalez, Fragomen Worldwide
- Tom Rosenfeld, CanAm Enterprises, LLC
The panelists discussed the likelihood of legislative changes to the EB-5 program in 2018 and the impacts of potential legislation. The panelists discussed the EB-5 program in the context of the larger US immigration debates. Bill and his fellow panelists focused on the key legislative issues for stakeholders in the EB-5 industry: Targeted Employment Areas (TEAs), the push for an increase in EB-5 visas and minimum investment amount increases.
Bill focused on the changes which may come from either (1) legislative changes (new law) passed by the US Congress or (2) changes from Regulation promulgated by the US Department of Homeland Security. Potential legislative changes which are being discussed in Congress may include needed integrity reforms, tightly defined targeted urban employment areas, visa set asides for rural and high unemployment urban areas, a 5 or 6-year re-authorization, coupled with increases in minimum investment amounts (from the current $500,000, up to $925,000 to $1,025,000).
The other mechanism for changes are regulations from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The DHS proposed regulations include changes which would tighten the definition of Targeted Employment Areas (but not as tightly defined as in the legislative proposals) and would greatly increase the minimum investment amount (up from the current $500,000, up to $1.3 million in a TEA or Rural area and $1.8 million per investor in all other areas). Of particular importance, the DHS’ regulatory changes cannot include the same integrity reforms and cannot reauthorize (or extend) the program – only Congress can make those changes.
Bill also stressed that although many in Congress support legislative reform, even if there is a compromise on an EB-5 legislative reform package, there must be a legislative vehicle (like the upcoming Omnibus bill expected to pass by March 23, 2018) upon which the EB-5 legislation would “ride.” The EB-5 program cannot realistically be passed on its own, and the upcoming Omnibus bill is the next appropriate legislative vehicle upon which the EB-5 program could be passed. Again, the Omnibus bill is expected to pass by March 23, 2018 with the end of the current continuing resolution.
Finally, Bill answered questions about the legislative and regulatory uncertainties which exist in the EB-5 program today and the challenges and opportunities that those uncertainties create for Regional Centers and project developers. The key, Bill stated, is the importance of planning for uncertainty in both Regional Center and EB-5 Investment Project design.
If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Phoebe Gresser at peg@eb5nys.com.
###
"Congress voted to end the government shutdown on Monday after three days of a shutdown. President Trump signed the measure, extending federal funding and authorization of the EB-5 Regional Center Program until February 8th. Regular processing of EB-5 petitions have resumed at all relevant agencies.
Congress still has work to do before February 8th. The new CR is the fourth continuing resolution of FY 2018, creating uncertainty for our industry and many others across the country. While Republican negotiators on EB-5 are closer than ever to finding agreement internally, there are still bipartisan negotiations that need to occur. With pending regulations that could raise investment levels by over 100% and a current potential posted final action date in February, Congressional leaders would likely be left with only 60 days after that final action date to produce a legislative solution in place of the regulations. IIUSA continues to advocate on behalf of the industry based on our grassroots-developed Policy Platform and will keep you updated on progress as it happens."
"Some kids at the Oishei Children’s Hospital got a Christmas surprise Wednesday when Santa Claus arrived to deliver toys.
Representatives from the hospital and Fisher-Price came together to spread some holiday cheer."
Congress Passes Stopgap Spending Bill - Extends EB-5 Through January 19, 2018.
[On December 21st] "both the House and Senate passed a stopgap spending bill which will avert a government shutdown through January 19, 2018, pending signature by President Trump which is expected sometime today. This extends the current sunset date for the EB-5 Regional Center Program as well, which was supposed to expire at midnight tonight.
IIUSA remains in close conversations with the Congressional offices working on EB-5 reform legislation and we are hopeful that action will occur prior to the new sunset date in January. As always, we will keep you informed of any developments when they occur. A reminder that you can review IIUSA's Policy Platform at anytime. This platform, developed and approved by our members and Board of Directors, guides the organizations conversations and positions around EB-5 reform. Please contactadvocacy@iiusa.org with any comments or questions."
"For Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Dean Michael Cain, the completion of the school’s new downtown location is “a dream come true.”
Cain was among several UB administrators who spoke at the grand opening ceremony for the new medical campus Tuesday morning. Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and New York State Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul also spoke at the ceremony and addressed a buzzing, excited crowd. Attendees filled every chair and standees spilled into the lobby. Onlookers could be seen looking down from every floor in the six-story atrium.
The opening of the $375 million facility comes after more than six years of planning and construction. The first phase of re-location started in November, and the building will be ready for the first day of classes on Jan. 8."
"BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) - The Oishei Children's Hospital held their annual tree lighting ceremony for the first time at their new hospital on Tuesday night.
The event allows families, patients, and hospital staff to have a night of gingerbread decorating, photo ops with Santa, and meet and greet opportunities with the Bills.
This is all in an attempt to show the children that being at the hospital isn't always a scary thing.
'It isn't scary when they walk in, it isn't scary when they're in the hospital being cared for' Oishei President Allegria Jaros said."