National League of Cities | Rachel Steinhardt | March 2014

1. National League of Cities | Rachel Steinhardt | March 2014

2. Immigrants are assets to communities

4. Entire community approach

5. * 2012: Led the country in job growth * 3rd best positioned city “to grow and prosper in the coming decade” – Forbes * “Flush with young new residents and alive with immigrants, tourists and music” – New York Times * “Nowville” – GQ Magazine The Welcoming Effect

6. “When immigrants pick your city that is a great honor.” - Nashville Mayor Karl Dean "With its high quality of life, central location and welcoming culture, Nashville is an exceptional place for global companies.” - Eduardo Minardi, CEO Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations

7. IMMIGRANTS… • Fill critical gaps in the labor market • Are more likely to start a business • Demonstrate significant purchasing power • Have a positive fiscal impact • Contribute a "diversity advantage“ • Attract young, creative people

8. Welcome Dayton

10. The Welcoming City/County Process

11. Welcoming Framework • Immigrant focused strategies • Receiving community focused strategies

12. Building Capacity for Citizenship & ESL Credit: Welcoming Colorado

13. Open for Business Credit: Nebraska is Home and Welcoming Rhode Island

14. Welcoming Schools Credit: You, Me, We Oakley and Welcoming Rhode Island

15. Leadership and Communications Without the energy and intellect and innovation of our immigrant community, Montgomery County would, quite simply, be incomplete. “New Americans” are a critical piece in building a better future for all County residents. - County Executive Ike Leggett Montgomery County, Maryland

16. St. Louis Mosaic

18. Nebraska is Home Welcoming Colorado

19. North Carolina Billboard Campaign

20. Boise, ID Macomb County, MI Sterling Heights, MI New York, NY Hamtramck, MI Allegheny County, PA Oakley, CA Chicago, IL Lincoln, NE Iowa City, IA Dayton, OH Philadelphia, PA San Francisco, CA Baltimore, MD Columbus, OH St. Louis, MO Montgomery County, MD Washington, DC St. Louis County, MO Dodge City, KS Louisville, KY High Point, NC Nashville, TN Tucson, AZ Charlotte, NC Memphis, TN Atlanta, GA Austin, TX Participating Cities and Counties

21. Initiative Benefits Participate in learning exchange Receive support and recognition Access new tools and resources Share good ideas with other local government leaders

22. Welcoming Cities and Counties commit to: • Advancing a Welcoming resolution • Adopt welcoming policies &practices • Join the initiative network • Appoint Welcoming lead • Participate in three conference calls a year • Participate in one in-person meeting a year

23. “Austin’s immigrant population is a key driver of our economic prosperity and an asset to our entire community….I’m thrilled to be joining this national initiative to learn new welcoming strategies from other communities.” - Natalie Betts, City of Austin’s Acting International Economic Development Program Manager

24. National Welcoming Week September 13-21, 2014 Bringing together newcomers and receiving communities in a spirit of unity Immigrants Make Us Stronger

25. www.welcomingamerica.org • Ideas • Tools • Training • Technical Assistance • National Network • Municipal Gov’t • Welcoming Refugees

26. The Welcoming Imperative Nations that are more accepting of and better at integrating new immigrants have a higher level of economic growth and development. - Richard Florida

27. Contact Welcoming America www.welcomingamerica.org Rachel Steinhardt, Deputy Director rachel@welcomingamerica.org