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.
Working with Immigrants Convinced One Law Student About the Need for Immigration Reform
Annie Zangari didn’t have particularly strong views on immigration growing up in the predominately white town of Northampton, Pa. But after completing her first year at Villanova University law school, the 23-year-old joined the school’s immigration clinic in May 2013. And she has come to believe that the public perceptions… Read More
Being an Immigrant Makes Adele Dorfner Roth the Perfect Person to Bring International Trade to Ohio
Adele Dorfner Roth shows exactly how a diverse city government can help spur economic growth. She came to the United States from Brazil as a small child when her father, an engineer, was hired by Mohawn, the Akron-based tire company. “He’s a huge risk taker,” Roth says. “Like most immigrants,… Read More
President/CEO of Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Calls Immigration Reform “Critical” to Local Economy
Since he joined the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in 2013 as President and CEO, Mark Madrid has seen the city’s Hispanic community have a tremendous economic impact. But he’s also witnessed a lot of lost opportunities. “Austin is an academic hub,” he says. “But the limited supply of… Read More
Positive Economic Impact of Immigration is Well Documented, Says Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President
Rick Ortiz has been president and CEO of the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce since 2012. He’s proud of the support the chamber provides to Latino small business owners and the assistance it gives to low-income residents of the community. But he’s especially proud that the chamber’s members have… Read More
This Japanese Immigrant Helps Immigrant Businesses Contribute $170 Million to the St. Louis Economy Yearly
During her 38 years as president and CEO of the International Institute of St. Louis, Anna Crosslin has seen how immigrants and refugees have made significant contributions to the city with the right support. The Institute serves 7,500 immigrants and refugees from more than 80 countries, providing language and citizenship… Read More
Demand for Bilingual Workers Increasing in Maryland
As employers strive to increase their competitiveness in the global economy, they are increasingly seeking candidates who have the language skills necessary to communicate with a diverse customer base, and with operations and competitors overseas. New analysis of Burning Glass data explores the growing demand for bilingual talent in Maryland… Read More
Sustainability Chief Sees Immigration as a Way to Revitalize American Cities
On a recent trade mission to the Canary Islands, Todd Adams was reminded of how valuable a diverse workforce can be. As the chief of sustainability and innovation at Visibility Marketing, a Cleveland-based company that offers management solutions and strategic planning for companies in the clean energy sector, Adams had… Read More
“Gateways for Growth Challenge” to Highlight, Enhance Immigrants’ Economic Contributions
In December 2015, the Partnership for a New American Economy (PNAE) and Welcoming America put out an open call for applications from chambers of commerce, local governments, and civil society organizations across the United States to participate in the Gateways for Growth Challenge. Through… Read More
Arizona City Council Member: “America Needs the Passion, Skills, and Experience of DREAMers”
Today, Lorenzo Sierra is a city council representative of Avondale, Arizona, a diverse city of 80,000 people. He also works with the next generation of underprivileged Hispanic kids to help them achieve. It’s a mission that stems from his background: Sierra grew up in a poor Tucson neighborhood… Read More
Tennessee Needs Carlos
Tennessee needs more doctors, and college is first step to med school. But undocumented students who graduate from Tennessee high schools don’t qualify for in-state tuition. Let’s give them the chance to pay their way to college. Let’s give Carlos his shot at the American Dream. Read More
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