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Resolution authorizing the proper City officials to apply for and accept a Research and Technical Assistance Award as part of the 2020 Gateways for Growth Challenge valued at $20,000.00 and to accept a gift membership in Welcoming America for the year 2021 valued at $1,500.00.
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WHEREAS, the New American Economy is a bipartisan research and advocacy organization that conducts demographic research on immigrant and refugee populations for local governments and advocacy organizations; and
WHEREAS, Welcoming America is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that works to encourage and support communities to be more inclusive and welcoming towards immigrants; and
WHEREAS, Immigration is one of our nation’s greatest assets. Communities across the country have seen the positive effects of a growing immigrant population;
WHEREAS, New Americans’ economic, civic, and cultural contributions have helped revitalize neighborhoods, create businesses large and small, and make cities more vibrant and competitive.
WHEREAS, recognizing this, many local governments, chambers of commerce, and nonprofits seek strategies to attract, retain, and integrate immigrants and international talent in their own communities; and
WHEREAS, to support and scale these pursuits, in 2015 New American Economy and Welcoming America launched the Gateways for Growth Challenge, a competitive opportunity for public and private sector organizations to jointly apply for support in improving immigrant inclusion in their community; and,
WHEREAS, G4G utilizes tailored economic research on the local economic contributions of immigrants and/or direct technical assistance to support Gateways for Growth awardees to create a local narrative, backed in data, on the imperative for building inclusive communities and, for those who are ready to take the next step, build a community-wide plan for immigrant inclusion supported by multi-sector stakeholders; and
WHEREAS, in the first three rounds of Gateways for Growth Challenge (2015-2020), the New American Economy and Welcoming America have supported 54 communities across the United States; and,
WHEREAS, in this fourth round, Gateways for Growth has focused on addressing the scale and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, and prioritized communities who include a demonstrated commitment to creating inclusive emergency management systems that prioritize the health and safety of all residents, regardless of immigration status; and
WHEREAS, Communities selected this year will be awarded individualized technical assistance from New American Economy and Welcoming America to support the development of a multi-sector strategic plan during the one-year period from December 2020 to December 2021.
WHEREAS, twenty communities are to be awarded customized research reports that highlight the economic and demographic impact of immigrants locally, including their tax contributions and spending power, roles in the local labor force, population and demographic trends, and other key information; and
WHEREAS, ten communities are to be awarded both the customized research and individualized technical assistance from the New American Economy and Welcoming America to support the development of their multi-sector strategic plans for the one-year period of December 2020 to December 2021.
WHEREAS, the multi-sector strategic plan will include convening with stake holders, hosting immigrant and refugee roundtables, and developing a community outreach and messaging campaign; and
WHEREAS, Saint Paul and the Saint Paul Chamber of Commerce applied for Gateways for Growth Challenge has selected the City of Saint Paul as one of the ten communities that will be awarded both the customized research and individualized technical assistance from the New American Economy and Welcoming America to support the development of a multi-sector strategic plans during the one-year period from December 2020 to December 2021.
WHEREAS, the New American Economy and Welcoming America estimate the value of this customized research and technical support at $20,000.00; and
WHEREAS, the New American Economy and Welcoming America, in return for providing this customized research and technical support requests that the City make a financial commitment to match the $20,000.00 level of support from the New American Economy and Welcoming America; and
WHEREAS, the Saint Paul City Attorney is willing to commitment to match the in-kind support from the New American Economy and Welcoming America (estimated at $20,000.00); and
WHEREAS, this commitment will be in the form of assigning Assistant City Attorney Edmundo Lijo to oversee and coordinate the planning process within the community, as well as serve as the liaison between the community and the New American Economy and Welcoming America; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Lijo will coordinate the project and will be the liaison with the New American Economy and Welcoming America; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Lijo is a full-time attorney assigned to the Saint Paul Immigrant and Refugee Project and the Immigrant and Refugee Program’s mission is dedicated to developing City policies that work to facilitate the successful integration of immigrants into Saint Paul’s civic, economic and cultural life; and
WHEREAS, the Gateways for Growth Challenge initiative squarely aligns with the mission of the Saint Paul Immigrant and Refugee Project, Mr. Lijo will allocate the time necessary over 2021 to complete this project; and
WHEREAS, as a Gateways for Growth Awardee, the City of Saint Paul will also receive a complimentary Welcoming America premium level membership for the calendar year 2021 valued at $1500.00; and
WHEREAS, on November 3, 2020, we passed Resolution 20-1549 which accepted a $1500 stipend from Welcoming America that is currently earmarked for use to pay for the City’s 2021 Welcoming America Membership; and
WHEREAS, Welcoming America is willing to issue the City of Saint Paul a check for that $1500 for the stipend instead of the membership in Welcoming America; and
WHEREAS the City Saint Paul will be awarded a membership in Welcoming America for 2021 as part of the Gateways for Growth award and the previously accept stipend can be accepted as a cash payment to the City, the City Attorney is seeking permission to accept the $1500 stipend ss a cash payment and apply these funds towards incidental expenses that will be incurred when developing the Gateways for Growth multi-sector plan instead; and
WHEREAS, we recognize that this Research and Technical Assistance Award, Membership in Welcoming America and the development of a community-wide plan for immigrant inclusion supported by multi-sector stakeholders will benefit the residents of the City of St. Paul, and
WHEREAS, the St. Paul City Attorney’s Office, wishes to confirm application and acceptance of the Gateways for Growth Challenge’s Research and Technical Assistance Award to the City of Saint Paul pursuant to City Council Resolutions 20-599 and 20-600,
THEREFORE, be it resolved that the St. Paul City Council wishes to accept of the Gateways for Growth’s Research and Technical Assistance Award, accept the membership in Welcoming America and allow the City Attorney to accept the stipend as a cash payment from Welcoming America that can be used towards incidental expenses that will be incurred when developing the Gateways for Growth multi-sector plan; and
THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Saint Paul City Council also wishes to thank the New American Economy, Welcoming America and the Gateways for Growth Challenge for their generous award and gifts.