NEW YORK: Anchorage joined the Welcoming America project, which recognizes the economic, cultural and social contributions that immigrants and refugees make to our communities and to our country. Next week, we kick off “Welcoming Anchorage” a partnership between the Municipality of Anchorage, local businesses, cultural organizations and the Anchorage Economic Development Corp.
When Anchorage became a member of the National Welcoming America project last year, the AEDC Live. Play Initiative committed to support it as part of its diversity effort, “One Anchorage One Economy.” Although the national project focuses on immigrant and refugee communities, Welcoming Anchorage integrates all cultures and peoples living here.
Welcoming Anchorage highlights our city as a place proud of our heritage and poised to be a globally competitive, culturally vibrant 21st century community. During the first year of this initiative, we will focus on economic diversification through entrepreneurship and innovation.Diversity is a key to diversification: between 2006 and 2010, new immigrant business owners and entrepreneurs accounted for 7.8 percent of all net business income in the state.
In 2010, almost 10 percent of Alaska’s business owners were foreign-born. These statistics bear witness that a welcoming community creates a growing and thriving economy that benefits all of us.Today’s young talent and tomorrow’s leaders are looking for a city that is aesthetically pleasing, welcoming and culturally vibrant. Attracting talent spurs economic growth and equips Anchorage to take on the challenges of tomorrow.
