Detroit, St. Louis and other Rust Belt cities look to immigrants to revive their economies
In Detroit, Cleveland, St. Louis and other metros in the Great Lakes region, communities were desperate to fuel a recovery after the Great Recession. They studied the impact of immigrants, and many adopted programs to nurture the newcomers. Economic development strategies were built around immigration. Over 20 local programs were designed to welcome, retain and integrate immigrants to spur urban revival and economic growth, according to a report by the New American Economy, a bipartisan, pro-immigration group of more than 500 mayors and business leaders.
The article features the St. Louis Mosaic Project, which connects businesses and international workers, supports immigrant entrepreneurs and has partnerships with K-12 schools and universities.