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Launched in December 2015,
the Gateways for Growth Challenge is a competitive
opportunity for local communities to receive tailored
research, direct technical assistance, and matching grants
from New American Economy and Welcoming America to develop
multi-sector plans for welcoming and integrating immigrants.
“We launched the Welcome
TLC initiative five years ago because we realized the value
of immigrants and refugees and the potential they bring to
Toledo and Lucas County. Toledo-Lucas County has a unique
immigrant population and history that has served us well in
the past and will continue to serve us well in the future,”
the Lucas County Commissioners said.
“This is another step in
Welcome TLC’s leadership in including Toledo-Lucas County’s
small but growing and diverse immigrant population in our
regional talent and economic development strategies,” said
Mechelle Zarou and Reem Subei, Welcome TLC’s Co-Chairs.
“Especially in this era of misinformation on immigration,
Toledo’s immigrant community is to be celebrated and
welcomed and we continue to work to put our region on the
map nationally.”
Following a rigorous
application process, Welcome TLC and 12 other communities
were selected for the third round of the Gateways for Growth
Challenge. This year’s awardees, alongside Welcome TLC,
include Bowling Green, Kentucky, Cedar Rapids, Iowa,
Charlotte, North Carolina, Flint, Michigan, Lexington,
Kentucky, Lowell, Massachusetts, Memphis, Tennessee,
Northern Kentucky, Roanoke, Virginia, San Antonio, Texas,
and Wayne County, Michigan.
In applying for the
Gateways for Growth Challenge, Welcome TLC demonstrated a
strong commitment to develop a concrete strategy that ensure
all residents have access to the tools and support they need
to succeed and contribute to their communities, and to
highlight the contributions immigrants are already making
locally. Foreign-born residents account for about seven
percent of Toledo’s population and more than nine percent of
Lucas County’s population.
Welcome TLC will receive
tailored research assistance from the Gateways for Growth
Challenge to update a study on the demographics and economic
impact of immigrants and refugees in Toledo.
In 2014, the Lucas County
Commissioners launched the Welcome Toledo-Lucas County
Initiative in partnership with LISC Toledo with resolutions
of support from Lucas County and the City of Toledo. Welcome
TLC is governed by a Steering Committee of cross-sector
community partners and leaders, including immigrants,
refugees, and people of diverse cultures that is focused on
community outreach, language access, legal services, and
workforce and economic development. More information on
Welcome TLC can be found on their Facebook page
www.facebook.com/WelcomeTLC and on LISC Toledo’s webpage
www.lisc.org/toledo/our-work/welcome-toledo-lucas-county.
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