State and Local Initiatives
They say all politics is local, right? While most of the debate about immigration focuses on congressional action (or inaction), local communities across the country are the ones who feel the value of immigration most tangibly. Now active in more than 50 communities – more than 80 percent of which are in conservative states – the NAE State & Local team works with policymakers, business, and civic leaders to promote policies and programs that help create jobs and drive economic growth. You can explore more of our work on the state and local level here.
Immigrants in Siouxland Contribute Millions to Regional GDP and Play an Integral Role in the Local Workforce
SIOUX CITY, IA – Immigrants in Iowa’s Plymouth and Woodbury counties contributed $522.2 million to GDP and held $137.7 million in spending power in 2015, according to a new research brief released by New American Economy in partnership with One Siouxland. The report highlights the demographic and economic contributions… Read More
Immigrant from Somalia Starts His Own Business While Working Shifts at Tyson
Mohamed Warsame began at Tyson’s Dakota City plant as a meat cutter, but, lacking knife skills, was soon assigned to pack and lift boxes. “They say, ‘We will know if you are really hardworking guy,’” he says, laughing. Now, seven years later, Warsame has cross-trained at every job on the… Read More
Immigrant and Community Leader from Mexico Gives Back to the Community that Raised Her
Balbina Valadez has been working with nonprofits since she graduated from high school, providing information on healthcare services, interpreting for immigrants, and conducting research on a range of issues. “I’m one of those people that likes to learn a lot of things,” she says. “And I like to help… Read More
Vietnamese Immigrant Wants to Help Her Community for Future Generations
Like so many Vietnamese people, Joanne Nguyen has lived a life shaped by American foreign policy. When she was born, in 1966, U.S. troops were already engaged in the ground war and her father, an English professor in Saigon, had been drafted into the South Vietnamese Army to assist U.S. Read More
Foreign-Born Residents Contributed Over $564 Million to Warren County’s GDP in 2016
BOWLING GREEN, KY – Immigrants in Warren County contributed $564.3 million to the county’s GDP in 2016 and paid $43 million in federal taxes and $21.1 million in state and local taxes, according to a new research brief by New American Economy (NAE), in partnership with the City… Read More
First-Generation Mexican-American Serves His Community Through His Business
At age 10, Victor Puga left his native Mexico for Kentucky. Since his father had been naturalized through the Reagan Amnesty of 1986, Puga arrived as a U.S. citizen. Still, his path wasn’t easy. He became a father at a young age and dropped out of school to work for… Read More
Bosnian Refugee Helps Start National Trucking Company from Scratch
Amira Zukic came to America with close to nothing, but after learning English and working hard, she and her husband now run one of Kentucky’s largest trucking companies, with $17 million in annual revenues. The secret to their success? “A lot of work, a lot of work, a lot… Read More
Michigan Graduates First Class of Seal of Biliteracy Recipients as Top State Employers Seek Bilingual Talent
LANSING, MI – Today, New American Economy (NAE) joins Michigan business leaders and educators to congratulate the state’s first class of Seal of Biliteracy recipients. Created by the Department of Education last year, the Seal of Biliteracy formally recognizes high school graduates who are proficient in more than one… Read More
Arkansas Catholic: Immigrants contribute more than $2 billion to LR area
Immigrants make the city of Little Rock rich beyond just cultural diversity. Their presence creates $2 billion for the state. According to recently released research conducted by the New American Economy along with the Little Rock Regional Chamber and the City of Little Rock, foreign-born residents of the metro Little… Read More
Dallas News: Detroit, St. Louis and other Rust Belt cities look to immigrants to revive their economies
In Texas, a lot of effort and taxpayer money go into recruiting businesses. Should more go into recruiting immigrants? That sounds counterintuitive, even controversial, given that so many immigrants live here already and statewide leaders often take a hard line on immigration and border security. But it’s a strategy that’s been… Read More
America's story is an immigrant story.
