Next American City reports on a recent conference that emphasized the role of immigrants in fueling economic growth.
"Consider the statistics: Immigrants are nearly 30 percent more likely to start businesses than native-born Americans. The evidence is all over American cities. In Los Angeles, a 2005 report counted immigrants as the creators of at least 22 of the city's 100 fastest growing companies. In Boston, immigrants have fueled the resurgence of several neighborhoods, including Fields Corner, East Boston and Allston Village.
Two trends that point to immigrants playing an even more critical role in the economy of American cities in the future are their continued population growth and the ongoing move by large companies to outsource labor to distant shores. By offering jobs here in the states, immigrant entrepreneurs help to counter the job losses of outsourcing. Even during economic downturns, immigrants tend to continue to start businesses and create jobs.
But despite their crucial role in economic growth, immigrants remain a vastly ignored part of city economies and disconnected from local economic development planning, says CUF [The Center for an Urban Future].
FULL STORY: The Ellis Island Economy
Silicon Valley Looks To Kill The Corner Store
A new startup is either a disruptive technology that will forever change the corner store, or yet another example of Silicon Valley looking to gentrify neighborhoods.
A Clash of Cultural Sensibilities in South Philly
Allyn Gaestel outlines the tensions that arise as a growing Vietnamese community begins to define the visual character of Washington Ave. in South Philadelphia.
New California Law Protects Commercial Tenants
The law, modeled on residential tenants’ rights, acknowledges the uneven power dynamics between many small business owners and their commercial landlords.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands
For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”
Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?
Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.
Platform Pilsner: Vancouver Transit Agency Releases... a Beer?
TransLink will receive a portion of every sale of the four-pack.
Toronto Weighs Cheaper Transit, Parking Hikes for Major Events
Special event rates would take effect during large festivals, sports games and concerts to ‘discourage driving, manage congestion and free up space for transit.”
Berlin to Consider Car-Free Zone Larger Than Manhattan
The area bound by the 22-mile Ringbahn would still allow 12 uses of a private automobile per year per person, and several other exemptions.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)