Ten Communities Selected to Drive Regional Growth Through Immigrant Inclusion Strategies

2025-12-16 economy

Washington D.C., Tuesday, 16 December 2025.
The American Immigration Council’s 2026 Gateways for Growth Challenge equips ten communities with customized economic research to leverage immigrant talent, vital for combating regional labor shortages and sustaining local growth.

Strategic Selection for Regional Economic Development

On December 15, 2025, the American Immigration Council and Welcoming America officially announced the selection of the 2026 cohort for the Gateways for Growth Challenge (G4G) [1]. This initiative, now in its sixth round, identifies localities poised to harness demographic shifts for economic advantage [1][2]. The selected communities for the 2026 cycle represent a diverse cross-section of the American economy, including Arlington County, Virginia; Charlotte and Durham, North Carolina; Fort Bend County, Texas; Johnson County, Kansas; Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Las Cruces, New Mexico; Mahoning County, Ohio; St. Louis, Missouri; and Wabash County, Indiana [1]. Rather than offering direct financial capital, the award provides these jurisdictions with customized research, technical assistance, and strategic planning support designed to foster inclusive policies [1][6]. This approach aims to transition local governance from passive acceptance to active economic integration of foreign-born residents [1].

Quantifying Economic Impact

The primary objective of the G4G Challenge is to provide local leaders with the data necessary to quantify the specific economic contributions of their immigrant populations [1]. Rich André, the Director of State and Local Initiatives at the American Immigration Council, noted that for nearly a decade, the program has enabled communities to measure this impact and invest in corresponding welcoming policies [1]. By equipping policymakers with granular data regarding tax contributions, spending power, and labor market participation, the initiative seeks to create an evidence-based foundation for regional growth strategies [6]. Since the program’s inception in 2016, it has supported more than 75 localities across 37 states, highlighting a long-term trend of municipalities seeking to leverage immigration as a tool for economic revitalization [1][6].

Regional Case Study: Mahoning Valley

Mahoning County, Ohio, serves as a pertinent example of how regional economies are utilizing this opportunity to address specific local needs. Having met the population threshold of at least 100,000 residents to qualify, local leaders in Mahoning Valley are specifically targeting the development of a support system for immigrant-owned businesses [6]. The collaboration involves creating a comprehensive profile of the local immigrant population, analyzing factors such as country of origin, industry participation, educational attainment, and housing trends [6]. Planning for this initiative is set to commence rapidly, with the first strategic meeting between local representatives and the national nonprofits scheduled for January 2026 [6]. This targeted approach underscores the shift toward viewing immigrant entrepreneurs as vital components of local commerce and service provision [6].

Workforce Dynamics and Future Growth

The focus on immigrant integration comes at a critical juncture for the U.S. labor market. Research indicates that immigrant-origin individuals are increasingly the primary drivers of labor force growth, a vital metric for sustaining economic expansion in the face of aging native-born populations [7]. Furthermore, with the U.S. immigration court system facing a backlog of nearly 3.8 million pending cases as of mid-2025, the ability of local communities to effectively integrate new arrivals is becoming an economic imperative rather than merely a social policy preference [7]. The G4G program addresses this by helping leaders navigate complex demographics to fill labor gaps and combat regional stagnation.

Turning Values into Action

Ultimately, the Gateways for Growth Challenge functions as a bridge between welcoming sentiment and actionable economic policy. Molly Hilligoss, senior network director of Welcoming America, emphasized that the 2026 cohort represents leaders committed to the day-to-day work of ensuring all residents can participate in the local economy [1]. By converting welcoming values into concrete structural support—such as the business development plans in Mahoning County—these communities are positioning themselves to maximize human capital [1][6]. As these ten communities begin their work in 2026, they join a broader network of localities utilizing data-driven strategies to ensure that demographic inclusion translates into sustained regional prosperity [1].

Sources

Workforce Development Immigration