Louisville Opens Economy to Immigrants as Other Cities Close Doors

In an article in this week’s Wall Street Journal (subscription, for now), Miriam Jordan writes of Louisville Mayor’s progressive stance on immigration and diversity. While Nashville and others have been drafting anti-immigration ordinances or vetoing those which help immigrants, she writes of Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson’s very visible position towards welcoming individuals from all nationalities into the Louisville economy:

“In speeches, Louisville Mayor Abramson champions the city’s immigrants, whom he calls “internationals.” In each of the past four years, he has handed out “international awards” to individuals, companies and organizations working to integrate and improve the lot of newcomers. “Communities that embrace diversity are going to be the most successful,” says the mayor, who has been at the city’s helm for most of the past two decades and avoids distinguishing between legal and illegal immigrants…..

….There’s a practical reason for the city’s openness: Like many other U.S. cities, Louisville faces an aging population and falling birth rates that are shrinking its work force. United Parcel Service Inc., General Electric Co. and other major companies with operations in Louisville say they need immigrants to keep thriving….

The article tells the story of the Bantu in Somalia, and their transition to Louisville, and is well worth the read.

In addition, I recommend Richard Florida’s book The Rise of the Creative Class as a great primer into the reasons such diversity is so important.

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