Cleveland.com: Cleveland immigrants pay taxes, start businesses, create jobs, New American Economy says

Immigrants comprise just about 5 percent of Greater Cleveland’s population, but are far more likely than their native-born neighbors to be entrepreneurs, and to work in professional, scientific, technical, healthcare, and manufacturing.

A just-released Map the Impact study says that the region’s 113,252 immigrants also paid $1.2 billion in state and local taxes, own 33,493 homes, and collectively wield $3.2 billion in spending power. It says foreign-born residents are helping to power the economy across the nation.

That’s according to the Partnership for a New American Economy, a bipartisan group of more than 500 mayors and business executives who support immigration reform, based on a yearlong analysis of the most recent government data.

“This new research proves what we’ve known for years: immigrants are an advantage to our local economy and in every community in America,” said Joe Cimperman, president of Global Cleveland, which aims to attract, welcome and connect international newcomers to economic and social opportunities in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County.

“Despite the ongoing repetition of misinformation, immigrants don’t take away jobs,” Cimperman said. “They’re teachers, nurses, and physicians.” They start businesses, open stores, buy homes, send their children to school, and become part of the community, he said.

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