By Valerie Royzman
Reporting for the Kent State-Ohio News Connection Collaboration

Srijang Laoti Subba opened Family Groceries with his brother and nephew in Akron in 2011. It began solely as a family business but soon, more employees were hired to accommodate the steady flow of customers.

The store, located in the city’s North Hill neighborhood, offers a diverse mix of Nepali, Burmese, Thai, African and Hispanic groceries, along with other items. The Subbas, who immigrated from Bhutan, also added a produce section, meat market and mini eatery in the rear of the building.

“We thought of bringing this stuff together to bring the community together,” Subba said, weaving through the aisles and pointing out the store’s best-selling cookies and beauty products.

Subba, 42, said there was a scarcity of jobs when he arrived in 2009, but immigrants have cultivated the area, and they keep coming, spawning a healthy competition among the local businesses.

The store’s success led them to open a second location in Cincinnati three months ago and hire an entirely new team of employees.

Subba and his brother, Naresh, a nuclear physicist, are examples of immigrants who contribute to the talent base of Ohio. Across the state, cities are strategizing solutions to keep immigrant populations afloat and prosperous despite growing concerns about immigration policies.

“I think that the activity in Washington has definitely raised the level of concern in immigrant communities, and it has made us more aware and more watchful of what is going on because we are committed to retaining immigrants in our region,” said Mary Stagaman, senior inclusion adviser for the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber.

Ohio currently is home to more than 500,000 immigrants who paid $4.4 billion in state and local taxes and contributed $11.7 billion in spending power to its economy, according to the bipartisan group New American Economy. The group represents more than 500 business executives and mayors who support immigration reform.

Its “Map the Impact” project shows immigrants represented 11.8 percent of Ohio’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workers in 2016, despite accounting for only 4.2 percent of the state’s population.

“The immigrants that we’re attracting in the Cincinnati market are disproportionately more educated than the native population, so they bring a lot of, for instance, STEM technical degrees into our region that are necessary to fill jobs that we have available,” Stagaman said. “They are increasingly more of our physicians, they are increasingly more of our engineers.”

Along with the Great Lakes Metro Chambers Coalition, a group of 40 chambers of commerce across the Rust Belt, New American Economy released a report in October 2017 that said the number of immigrant entrepreneurs increased by 120,000 from 2000 to 2015, while the rate at which native-born Americans opened businesses went down. Immigrants also accounted for more than one of every five “Main Street” business owners in the region, which generated about 239,000 jobs for blue-collar, U.S.-born workers.

Annie McFadden, deputy chief of staff for Akron Mayor Daniel Horrigan, said immigrants are an “economic force” in the city, with many introducing culturally oriented businesses and revitalizing run-down neighborhoods, including in Akron’s North Hill.

“They pay taxes here, they buy products here, they open up businesses here, they contribute to our labor force and consumer spending,” McFadden said. “They also tend to increase our housing values because they tend to buy and rehabilitate houses in Akron.”

Joe Cimperman, president of Global Cleveland, a nonprofit economic-development group that promotes immigration, said a lot of the immigrants in Ohio are of prime working age, between 25 and 54, a factor that further contributes to their willingness to find jobs.

In the Great Lakes states, about 70 percent of the foreign-born population are people of working age, whereas the U.S.-born population had about 51 percent, according to the New American Economy report.

“The examples of the benefit of not only welcoming immigrants, but allowing them to do what they do, which is to start businesses, to hire people, is one of the things that troubles me so much about our national policy. … If we really are trying to put our nation first, the way to do that is not by closing the door or building a wall,” Cimperman said. “That is the exact opposite way to do it.”

By helping key Ohio cities reverse population loss among native-born citizens, immigration is a “demographic lifeline” in the Rust Belt, according to a recent study from the nonpartisan Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

In 1900, according to the study, about 50 percent of immigrants in the Midwest lived in urban areas, compared with 38 percent of those native-born. By 1960, 85 percent of immigrants lived in urban areas, compared with 68 percent of native-born residents.

“For the cities of the Midwest,” said study author Rob Paral, a demographer and nonresident fellow at the council, “restricting current immigration levels is the last thing they need: an unnecessary tourniquet applied to a precious supply of new regional residents and workers.”

Pete Gerken, president of the Lucas County commissioners, said immigrants helped offset the loss in his county of U.S.-born citizens. Toledo’s overall population experienced a 12 percent decrease between 2000 and 2014, along with a 12.7 percent decrease of those born in the United States. The foreign-born population, however, saw a 14.6 percent boost, he said.

Gerken said the immigrants coming to Toledo are skilled, family-oriented and have a strong work ethic, but need a safe and welcoming place such as what his community can provide. The influx of people, he said, provides an economic advantage and increased population growth to the area.

“Even those people that may not like the politics of immigration ought to look at the bottom-line economics of it, if that’s what they need to get supportive of it, because it is a factor in our economic growth,” he said.

Dayton City Commissioner Matt Joseph said the anti-immigrant attitudes of the Trump presidency and changing immigration policies at the federal level are frustrating.

“We need folks to help us rebuild,” Joseph said, “and the very people who are doing that are the people the federal government is trying to keep out — just really dumb.”

In Cincinnati, Stagaman said she’s hearing a lot more concern for personal safety. Legal immigrants who have worked in the country for years, she said, are feeling worried for themselves and their extended families.

Ohio’s major cities — Akron, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton and Toledo — have welcoming initiatives in place, meaning they’re prepared to take in any immigrants who want to come. The six largest cities are members of the Ohio Welcoming Initiatives network, formed in 2015 to strengthen local efforts to sustain immigrant populations statewide.

Additionally, Dayton was certified by Welcoming America, a nonprofit immigrant advocacy group, as the nation’s first “welcoming city” in September for its immigrant-friendly actions that began in 2011.

Joseph said restrictions are something the nation has seen time and time again through history. But setbacks are temporary, he said.

“People realize immigrants are needed; immigrants are vital; immigrants are a part of our heritage,” he said. “In a short amount of time, through one mechanism or another, people will figure out that it’s the best thing for our city and state to have refugees and immigrants here to join us and become Americans.”

Binod Gajmer spent 17 years in a refugee camp in Nepal before coming to the United States, where he and his brothers opened Akron’s Rohan Jewelers in 2013. His brother, Bhakti, makes all the pieces himself. In January, they opened Ration Convenience Store next door.

Gajmer said financially, immigrants aid the state. “Without immigrants,” he said, “America will collapse.”

This collaboration is funded in part by Media in the Public Interest and the George Gund Foundation.


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A new report analyzes Pennsylvania's existing voucher programs, that divert public funds to private schools.

This comes on the heels of Gov. Josh Shapiro's plan to create a new voucher program for K-12 students.

Diana Polson - senior policy analyst with the Keystone Research Center - said last year's Commonwealth Court decision ruled that Pennsylvania's system of funding public education is unconstitutional, therefore the state doesn't have a dollar to waste on expanding existing private-school voucher programs or creating a new one.

"The basic-education funding commission estimated the state must pay $5.1 billion over the next seven years to make sure our public schools are funded equitably and adequately," said Polson. "Meanwhile, our report finds that existing private-school voucher programs are siphoning millions from taxpayers with little to show for it."

Supporters argue that vouchers let children leave under-performing public schools and get a better education at private schools.

Polson said Pennsylvania's voucher programs have no "meaningful educational or financial accountability," so they really have no way of knowing if these programs operate as intended or are beneficial to low-income or moderate-income students.

Polson said the report reveals that the programs have grown, and just this year they will cost the state nearly $500 million.

However, these voucher programs exclude students in rural areas, because there are few if any participating private schools in these regions.

Local public schools remain the primary option for most rural families.

"We also found that private schools receiving these funds are allowed to - and do - routinely discriminate against students for reasons including disabilities, sexual orientation, religious beliefs and more," said Polson. "These programs are also exclusive. They subsidize the state's most elite and expensive private schools as well as affluent families."

Polson said the report reveals that the Independent Fiscal Office estimated that the average EITC program scholarship was $2,314, while the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit was slightly less at around $2,000.

The cost of attending one of the top 25 private schools in Pennsylvania is around $41,000 per year. This means these schools are still out of reach for many low- and moderate-income families.

As Nebraska's 2024 legislative session draws to a close, family caregivers and their supporters are closely watching the progress of Legislative Bill 937, the Caregiver Tax Credit Act.

The bill provides eligible family caregivers up to $2,000 in tax credits for out-of-pocket expenses or up to $3,000 if the family member receiving care has dementia or is a veteran.

Jina Ragland, state director of advocacy and outreach for AARP Nebraska, said family caregivers are filling health care gaps in the state, especially with 15 Nebraska counties currently lacking a nursing home or assisted-living facility. Ragland argued the state's family caregivers need and deserve financial support.

"We really feel they're the backbone of the U.S. care system," Ragland emphasized. "Especially here in Nebraska because they're helping parents, they're helping loved ones live independently in their homes."

Family caregivers in the U.S. spend an average of $7,000 per year in out-of-pocket expenses. Employed caregivers sometimes lose wages when they have to take time off for caregiving responsibilities. Others retire early, losing both wages and retirement income.

The bill includes an income limit of $50,000 for individuals and $100,000 for married couples. Sen. Eliot Bostar, D-Lincoln, introduced the bill on behalf of AARP Nebraska. The legislature is expected to debate the measure for the second time this week.

Joyce Beck of Grand Island knows firsthand the emotional and financial strain of being a caregiver and losing a loved one. She retired early to care for her husband, who suffered from multiple sclerosis and cancer. In addition to significant out-of-pocket expenses, her Social Security and pension payments are both lower because she retired early.

Beck said she knows some Nebraskans face bigger financial struggles as a result of their caregiving.

"If there's any financial support that we can give, that would be so beneficial," Beck contended. "Some people don't have the option of a retirement account or a pension plan, so $2,000 would be huge for them. "

Ragland stressed family caregivers are helping Nebraska taxpayers as well. When their caregiving delays or prevents expensive-nursing home placement, it contributes to lowering the state's Medicaid costs.

"An important concept for people to understand is the value of those people who are just doing what they think is right," Ragland asserted. "The time and the money and the energy that they're providing as family caregivers to offset, again, the gaps in the care services that we have in our communities."

Six states currently offer a caregiver tax credit, and there is a bipartisan bill in the U.S. Congress to enact one at the federal level.

As California faces a $38 billion budget deficit, state lawmakers have identified $17 billion in potential cuts before the Legislature begins crunching the numbers later this week.

Initial plans include shifting some funds away from job training programs but the idea is getting some pushback. Advocates of the programs said at a time when skilled worker shortages plague essential sectors, investments in job training are needed.

Lisa Countryman-Quiroz, CEO of San Francisco-based Jewish Vocational Service, a nonprofit job training agency helping to match jobseekers with employers, said current economic conditions call for investment in programs like theirs.

"This is absolutely critical given the cost of living, given rising economic inequality in the state of California, the people who really want to be able to provide for their families, people who want to be able to advance in their careers," Countryman-Quiroz outlined. "We are helping people get there."

Democrats, who hold a supermajority, agreed last week to reduce the state's projected shortfall through spending cuts, delays, deferrals and cost-shifting. The budget debate could start as soon as Thursday.

Countryman-Quiroz said while job training can have high costs, workforce investments often pay for themselves by closing opportunity gaps in employment and creating economic revenue. She cited one program, known as the High Road Training Partnership.

"We see a really positive return on investment," Countryman-Quiroz pointed out. "Every dollar that JVS specifically has received in HRTP funds has resulted in $2 in wages for the jobseekers that we work with."

Jordan Hernandez, a graduate of the High Road Training Partnership, said he has successfully accessed both education and job opportunities.

"This program has given me a lot of confidence, especially with school things," Hernandez noted. "I never thought I'd be in school, so once I got into this program, I was very nervous, but they were very welcoming. They treated me with respect, and they understood where I was coming from."


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