LANSING, Mich.—As the newly launched Office of Global Michigan sets the stage for the state as a welcoming and inclusive leader in attracting, retaining immigrant talent, they are encouraging all Michiganders to join them during Welcoming Week, Sept. 13-22, to recognize that being a welcoming community for immigrants makes Michigan stronger economically, socially and culturally.
“Efforts like this help us bring awareness to the vital contributions immigrant talent brings to our great state,” said Office of Global Michigan Director Fayrouz Saad. “We hope others will join us in a spirit of unity as we celebrate immigrants, refugees and long-time residents and affirm the benefits of welcoming everyone who helps us build strong communities across the state.”
Michigan has more than 705,000 immigrant residents who add social and cultural benefits to our communities and make a strong economic impact statewide – contributing $6.7 billion in taxes and $18.2 billion in spending power.
“Immigrant communities across the state play a vital role in the state’s workforce and economy,” Saad added. “With more than 545,000 jobs to fill through 2026, we need all hands on deck, but more importantly, we need to make sure we are cultivating inclusive communities and ensuring equal opportunities for all Michiganders to grow and succeed.”
During Welcoming Week, Office of Global Michigan will celebrate and honor the people whose hard work helps companies in Michigan thrive.
Michiganders can join Global Michigan by sharing their personal immigrant and refugee stories and highlight their contributions to their community on social media, adding #WelcomingWeek and #IWelcome.
The www.welcomingweek.org site includes downloadable signs and other resources to celebrate the immigrant, refugee and international community.Visit www.newamericaneconomy.org/locations/michigan to learn more about immigrants and the economy.
Learn more about Office of Global Michigan at www.michigan.gov/OGM.
ABOUT OFFICE OF GLOBAL MICHIGANThe Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, Office of Global Michigan, helps grow Michigan’s economy by retaining and attracting global talent; promoting the skills, energy, and entrepreneurial spirit of our immigrant and refugee communities; and making Michigan a more welcoming state. Global Michigan supports immigrant and refugee integration initiatives, works with state agencies that provide services to immigrants and refugees and removes barriers to accessing those state services.ABOUT NATIONAL WELCOMING WEEKWelcoming Week is an annual celebration bringing together thousands of people and hundreds of local events that build unity between the contributions of immigrants and refugees and the role long-term residents play to foster greater welcome. Welcoming Week is Sept. 13-22 across the country and is expanding to other parts of the world.
Welcoming America is leading a movement of inclusive communities becoming more prosperous by making everyone who lives there know they belong. Welcoming America believes that all people, including immigrants, are valued contributors and vital to the success of both our communities and our shared future, welcomingamerica.org.
