Revitalization in the Heartland of America: Welcoming Immigrant Entrepreneurs for Economic Development

Several areas of the country are seeking to attract immigrants and to foster their economic integration as part of a new strategy to spur economic growth and stem population decline.

In Revitalization of the Heartland of America: Welcoming Immigrant Entrepreneurs for Economic Development, author Paul McDaniel looks at welcoming initiatives in three places: Detroit, St. Louis, and rural Iowa.  Global Detroit, for instance, is working to encourage immigrant-led neighborhood revitalization through small-business support and services. The St. Louis Mosaic Project conducts public education on the importance of immigrants and offers professional networking opportunities for immigrant entrepreneurs. In Iowa, the State University Extension and Outreach Office conducts trainings to develop the leadership skills of newly-arrived immigrants.  Research suggests that initiatives such as these make local communities "more resilient when faced with economic shocks," Among the author's policy recommendations are partnerships between native-born and immigrant-owned businesses, enhanced integration initiatives, and comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level that creates clear pathways to citizenship and supports immigrants who want to start their own businesses. 

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