Cost: $19.7 million

BCCC NMTC allocation: $9.7 million

Sponsor: Shea Properties

Investor: US Bank

Location: San Diego County, CA

Description: The Mercado del Barrio project (Mercado) consists of the construction of 83,800 square feet of retail space designed specifically for the surrounding Hispanic community. Mercado aligned so well with community priorities it received a first place award for Neighborhood Planning from the California Chapter of the American Planning Association. Mercado lies within the Barrio Logan community of San Diego which had an 85% Hispanic population and 41% of its residents living in poverty. Since the 1970’s the Barrio Logan community and City of San Diego had attempted to create a project that economically stimulated the community and included a Hispanic grocer and Mercado accomplished these goals. Tied to the creation of the Mercado project was the development of 92 residential units set aside for low-income families developed by Chelsea Investment Corporation. Former San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders said of Mercado “It’s going to enhance a culturally rich neighborhood, spur small-business creation and create jobs.”

Cost: $23.9 million

BCCC NMTC allocation: $9.3 million

Sponsor: College of the Desert

Investor: US Bank

Location: Riverside County, CA

Description: Project consists of the construction of a 40,000 square foot, 3 store campus building which includes 10,000 square feet of retail. The College of the Desert, Indio Campus (COD) was constructed on a 2.5 acre site donated by the City of Indio which was previously a defunct bus terminal and ground zero for prostitution in the area. It is COD’s goal and the belief of City and regional leaders that the COD’s presence will help revitalize the entire section of the eastern Coachella Valley Region. COD estimates it will serve 3,000 students annually with as many as 5,900 by Year 7 who primarily come from lower-income and minority households. COD offers 2 year programs and is a vital link in helping students from these backgrounds gain access to academic and job skills training that would otherwise be financially or logistically out of reach.

Cost: $27.0 million

BCCC NMTC allocation: $8 million

Sponsor: One World Beef

Investor: JPMorgan Chase

Location: Imperial County, CA

Description: The One World Beef project (OWB) consists of the purchase and rehabilitation of a 337,000 square foot beef processing plant including retrofitting the wastewater treatment facilities to upgrade them to meet the Regional Water Quality Control Board’s regulatory standard. Regarding the livestock industry, the Imperial County Economic Forecast for 2015 said: "… this industry has all but disappeared due to events that occurred earlier in 2014 when National Beef (a beef processing facility in Brawley, CA) moved their operations outside the State of California…" OWB is anticipated to revitalize the once booming livestock industry in Imperial County. Imperial County typically has between 20% - 25% unemployment which is among the highest in the nation and OWB is anticipated to create 600 jobs ramping up over a four year period. The City of Brawley Mayor, Don Wharton, stated:  “the positive impact that the re-opening of the beef plant extends beyond the city limits. Job creation on this level does not happen often, therefore the significance of this industry returning to Brawley is immeasurable.”

Cost: $27.6 million

BCCC NMTC allocation: $9 million

Sponsor: Medical Center of the Americas Foundation

Investor: Capital One

Location: El Paso County, TX

Description: The Medical Center of the Americas Tech Park project (MCA) consists of a 60,000 square foot life sciences and research facility which includes 9,700 square feet for wet / dry labs; 44,800 square feet for office space including 20,000 square feet leased by Texas Tech; 2,300 square feet for high tech computing center and conference space; and 600 square feet for a cafe. The City of El Paso has identified biotech as a key industry in the City’s redevelopment and growth strategy and MCA is the initial investment by the City in this strategy. It is the goal of the MCA project to create a new economic engine and introduce a new industry to El Paso and create a hub for an early stage biomedical cluster anchoring a much larger biotech park.