South Norwalk gains regional center aiming to create jobs

EB5 Regional Center of America L.L.C.’s South Norwalk headquarters was officially designated a regional center in the federal “EB-5” program by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services last week.

The center”™s stated mission is to stimulate job growth in Connecticut and the region by matching up visa-seeking foreign investors with domestic projects and companies.

Clay Fowler, principal of Norwalk-based Spinnaker Real Estate Partners, said in an announcement of the designation that his company specializes in redevelopment of downtowns and neighborhoods.

“Having EB-5 capital available means more good projects and more good jobs,” he said. “This is a wonderful development for Norwalk, Fairfield County and the entire state.”

The announcement said the center would make capital available to state developers and in turn create jobs in areas where growth is needed. U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, a Democrat whose district includes most of Fairfield County, said, “We need to create more good-paying jobs in Connecticut and regional centers provide an opportunity to attract the capital needed to do just that.”

The center is at 11 Day St.