Announcement
Economic Contribution of Immigrants Panel
Photo: Helen Rolston-Clemmer
On Wednesday, July 11th the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Missoula hosted a panel of experts to discuss the economic contributions of immigrants to the Missoula community. Local partners, members of the press, and local leaders were present to hear from the experts gathered to speak. The panel was moderated by Jen Barile, the IRC Missoula Resettlement Director. Panel members included Erica Bouris, IRC Economic Empowerment Technical Adviser; Mayor John Engen of Missoula; Mayor Wilmot Collins of Helena; Bob-Be Sparks, Executive Housekeeper & Cindy Smith, Director of Human Resources, Holiday Inn Missoula; Kathy O'Masters, Vice President/Branch Manager, Missoula Federal Credit Union; and Joel Kambale, Interpreter, IRC Missoula.
Economic Impact Report
Photo: Zak Reimer
This panel coincided with the release of a report by New American Economy (NAE), created in partnership with the International Rescue Committee in Missoula and the City of Missoula Office of Housing and Community Development. The report details the financial contributions of immigrants to the Missoula region and the role the immigrant population plays in the local labor force. The report is now available to the public at the NAE’s webpage here: http://www.newamericaneconomy.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/G4G_Missou…
New American Economy (NAE) brings together more than 500 Republican, Democratic and Independent mayors and business leaders who support immigration reforms that will help create jobs for Americans today. Coalition members include mayors of more than 35 million people nationwide and business leaders of companies that generate more than $1.5 trillion and employ more than 4 million people across all sectors of the economy, from Agriculture to Aerospace, Hospitality to High Tech and Media to Manufacturing. Learn more about NAE at www.newamericaneconomy.org
Missoula was one of 44 communities selected for the Gateways for Growth Challenge, a competitive opportunity from New American Economy and Welcoming America where local communities receive tailored research on the contributions of immigrants, direct technical assistance to develop multi-sector plans for welcoming and integrating immigrants, or matching grants.
Numerous press outlets covered the event:
http://mtpr.org/post/missoula-panel-talks-economic-contributions-immigr…;
https://missoulian.com/news/local/report-immigrants-in-the-missoula-reg…;
https://www.missoulacurrent.com/business/2018/07/missoula-immigrant-eco…;
The event was also live streamed and is available to watch on the IRC Missoula website: https://www.facebook.com/IRCMissoula/videos/198431127539650/
The event was catered by Arabian Cuisines https://softlandingmissoula.org/news/2018/6/27/arabian-cuisines
Missoula Federal Credit Union donated their space and coffee was donated by Starbucks.