Why We Welcome New Residents and Workers to Middle Tennessee

Nashville, along with other large cities, is recognizing more than ever the increasingly important role the immigrant workforce is playing in our economic growth. Forbes magazine recently published its ranking of the top 54 cities in the nation prospected to be “The Next Big Boom Towns in the U.S.,” which is highlighted in a previous blog by Janet Miller. Nashville, sitting impressively in third place, beat out traditional powerhouse cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles and New York City. To determine the ranking, Forbes looked at factors such as post-recession job growth, population growth, growth in educated migration and the area’s attractiveness to immigrants looking to settle and start businesses. According to Forbes, these demographic factors are important because “college-educated migrants, new families and immigrants will be critical in shaping the future.”

In last year's workforce study, the Chamber and our regional partners projected that Middle Tennessee will need substantial in-migration to meet its workforce needs if the region’s growth is to continue at levels comparable to the recent past. This is why we recently joined the Partnership for a New American Economy, a coalition of mayors and business leaders across the country pushing for sensible federal immigration reform that will, as a result, stimulate the growth of the workforce needed for America’s jobs. If Middle Tennessee cannot provide workers, companies will leave our region, which will negatively impact our prosperity.

The Partnership celebrated its first anniversary on June 24 and now has more than 300 members. Tennessee leaders such as Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and Chamber President and CEO Ralph Schulz have been influential leaders in ensuring the success of the Partnership and its growth. Click here for a list of Partnership members and see my previous blog for the highlighted principles that the Partnership plans to enact to ensure our nation’s role as a top competitor in the 21st-century global economy.

As business leaders prepare for future local, state and federal discussions surrounding the issue of immigration and its impact upon our economy and our image as a city and state, it will be important to show our own residents and businesses -- as well as business leaders from around the world who might consider Middle Tennessee and our state for economic opportunities -- that we are welcoming and inclusive and that we value immigration as a positive force for economic growth. You can join this effort by signing on as a member of the Partnership today.

By taking the necessary steps toward immigration reform and inclusion, our economy will reap the benefits from our growing and diverse immigrant population, leading us toward even greater economic prosperity for all.