Local Government Incorporation of Immigrants in Community Economic Development Strategies

Abstract

Past literature on the Renewal Community, Empowerment Zone & Enterprise Community (RC/EZ/EC) programs focused on the application process and impact. Less is known about how participating local governments engaged immigration in the revitalization of these neighborhoods. This study analyzes strategic plans and annual reports from 117 RC/EZ/ECs submitted to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Places with increasing immigration and smaller African-American populations, relative to Asian and Hispanic populations, had increased odds of including immigrant communities in strategic plans and reports. The study describes examples of immigrant strategies for workforce development, entrepreneurship and housing.