Immigration may be the key to economic growth in SE Michigan

Even though Southwest Detroit and Hamtramck are beacons of diversity, Detroit and Michigan could do a lot better when attracting immigrants, which have proved to be a source of economic growth within communities.

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"To have a strong Detroit, a strong Southeast Michigan, immigrants are a necessary component," Tobocman says. "We need a welcome mat for these citizens, housing services, and employer services. We're thinking on what some of these out-of-the-box strategies could be for immigration growth."

Global Detroit began in March of this year and Tobocman says they've already discussed dozens upon dozens of strategies, some of which have already been implemented in other states. Ideas like welcoming centers for new Michiganders, internship programs to retain foreign students after college graduation, or a regional center that pools foreign investment (of $500k or more) for local development -- which would create American jobs -- in return for a visa (called the EB-5).

As Southeast Michigan stands now, and for most of the Rustbelt for that matter, there aren't any honest to goodness strategies in place. Efforts haven't gotten past a welcome center in Detroit's Mexicantown and one recently instituted in Philadelphia. These centers give new immigrants soft landings into communities and urban areas, plugging them in as much as possible.

Read the entire article here.

Additionally, Wayne State University is hosting a film event playing "Regional Roots" that will discuss Detroit's 300 years of history and how immigrants helped shape what the city is today.

Get more information here. A trailer for the film can be found here.