Business and the Workforce
Immigrants not only bring diverse skills and perspectives to the U.S. workforce, they often fill employment gaps in crucial fields. We advocate for expanded work visas and related programs so our labor force can continue to benefit from immigrant workers and remain competitive in the global economy
The United States Must Embrace Global Talent, As High-Skilled Foreign Workers Go Elsewhere
If the U.S. government closes the door to highly skilled foreign workers, other countries stand ready to embrace their contributions. For instance, while the Trump administration contemplates an overhaul of the H-1B temporary employment visa, a process that would make it more difficult to obtain them, the Canadian government… Read More
Lancaster Online: Refugees, immigrants vital to local economy
Last week’s Sunday LNP did a nice job laying out the tension surrounding the issue of immigration and refugee resettlement and, more specifically, demonstrating its local impact on both people and organizations like Church World Service. The very next day, that tension escalated when the Trump administration announced that it… Read More
New Census Data Show Immigrants Complement Natives in the US Workforce
Every year, the Census Bureau releases new data from its American Community Survey (ACS), which contains a wealth of information about the characteristics of the U.S. population. Without fail, this data always underscores the significant extent to which immigrants contribute to the U.S. economy. The 2017 data—released… Read More
The Dallas Morning News: Think Dallas is immigrant-friendly? It has room to grow, according to a new analysis
Immigrants in Dallas are steadily employed and play a strong role in the city’s entrepreneurship landscape, but their quality of life, trust in law enforcement and civic participation levels lag those of the U.S.-born population, according to a new analysis. The Cities Index analyzed the inclusiveness of city policies and socio-economic outcomes… Read More
Thai Immigrant Brings Years of Restaurant Experience to St. Paul
Yuwadee Poophakumpanart first visited the United States in 2005. Her brother, also from Thailand, had married an American woman and was living in St. Paul, as was her sister. She liked the city, and, after spending some time walking neighborhoods peppered with immigrant businesses, decided that not only did she… Read More
Grand Rapids Business Journal: Report documents immigrant contributions
Grand Rapids community leaders agreed making immigrants feel like they belong in Kent County not only is right but is economically smart. Foreign-born residents of Kent County contributed $3.3 billion to the county’s GDP in 2016, according to a report presented Sept. 12 by the local Gateways for Growth Project,… Read More
Foreign-Born Residents Contributed $3.3 Billion to Kent County GDP in 2016
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Immigrants in Kent County contributed $3.3 billion to the county’s GDP in 2016 and paid $214 million in federal taxes and $102 million in state and local taxes, according to a new report by New American Economy (NAE), in partnership with Samaritas, the City of… Read More
Filipino Immigrant Brings High Fashion to Grand Rapids
When pressed, Romel “RC” Caylan, a rising design star, may describe himself as a kind of fashion ambassador for Grand Rapids. Truth be told, he simply loves the city, and honors the journey that brought him to this corner of Michigan. Caylan was born in Iligan City and raised in… Read More
Entrepreneur from Argentina Helps Keep Jobs in Michigan
Natalia Kovicak was 22 when she met her future husband on a beach in Mexico. She had a bachelor’s degree in human resources and public relations from the University of Palermo and a good job with the Coca-Cola company in Buenos Aires. She had also launched her own event-planning business. Read More
Entrepreneurs Raised in Mexico Give Back through Business Training
Although Ruben Ramos was born in the United States, his family returned to their village in the Sierra Madre Mountains, in Mexico, when he was a baby. When they moved back to the States—to Chicago then Grand Rapids—Ramos was 10 years old and didn’t know a word of English. “I… Read More
America's story is an immigrant story.
