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Welcome by Sandy Baruah Helping States Encourage Exporting Building Businesses on the Border Trade Adjustment Assistance: Helping Firms Compete in the Global Economy World Trade Centers: Gateways to the Global Marketplace The U.S. – Mexico Border: Integrated Economies A Sea Change in Ocean Shipping Intermodal Opportunities in Appalachia America’s Dependence on Flight-by-Night Operators Making Charlotte an International City  Subscribe
About Economic Development America
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Making Charlotte an International City (cont.)
Because of cultural differences, these data are more difficult to obtain than are general small business survey results. However, in April 2006, the Belk College and MIC were able to present a preliminary analysis. The data indicate that there are 6,767 immigrant-owned firms in the Charlotte area employing 14,419 people, with total payroll of $667 million. Even though the immigrant population is roughly 50 percent Hispanic and 25 percent Asian, we found that Asians account for 50 percent of the entrepreneurs while Hispanics account for 30 percent. The fact that Charlotte’s Asian populations have been in the area much longer than the Hispanic populations may account for some of this difference. Finally, the economic impact of our growing international population is reflected in the money these residents earn and spend locally. According to a 2002 study by the Mayor’s International Cabinet, The Economic Impact of the International Community in the Charlotte Area, the annual purchasing power of Hispanics and Asians in Charlotte/Mecklenburg was estimated to be more than $311 million and $353 million, respectively.
The Mayor’s International Cabinet is a 501(c)3 corporation as well as a financial partner with the city of Charlotte.We are a city committee, meaning that our 30 members are appointed by the mayor, the city council or the city manager. As such, we ensure that our efforts closely follow the goals they set for the city.We also align ourselves with the mission of the Economic Development Office of the City of Charlotte, whose director is an appointed member of the Cabinet. In our early history, six issue groups were the basis of our committee structure and each had a chairman with an action plan. (Those groups included visibility and awareness; community services and welcome; cultural education; higher education and business; international business and economic development; and international organizations.) As the organization has matured, we have determined that rather than operating with a set committee structure, we can better meet the needs of international Charlotte by partnering with other organizations to do needs assessments and research and by focusing our efforts on being a catalyst. The growth of our international populations has driven a corresponding growth in the number of cultural and social service organizations that work directly with these groups. As they have stepped forward to meet the needs initially identified by the committees, we support and promote their work to encourage collaboration and avoid duplicating efforts. For example, on an ongoing basis we track the growth of the international non-profit, educational, cultural and social service organizations in the area.We maintain this data in an on-line searchable database (www.charlottemic.org) and annually publish a brochure entitled International Charlotte. We swap our non-profit data with the Chamber for their data on foreign-owned firms, and the Chamber includes all of this information in its annual publication, International Review. Between 2005 and 2006, we saw an increase of 77 international non-profits in our area. We also track all international events, seminars and meetings in the area and publish a weekly electronic newsletter, International Focus, to highlight and promote these events. From these data, we publish a second annual brochure, International Festivals, dedicated to the large ethnic festivals and other international events on a month-by-month basis. Both of these brochures are included in the international recruiting packets of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce and the Charlotte Regional Partnership. The Cabinet also facilitates cooperation and collaboration among our international populations and businesses. For example, we are currently working with our diverse African populations to revitalize the African Chamber of Commerce and to have these representatives interact in a proactive way with our Ghanaian Sister City of Kumasi. Both the Asian and Latino business communities have formed successful chambers and are able to serve as mentors as the process moves forward.We support the various ethnic chambers in their projects and efforts and ensure through our MIC Envoy program that the Cabinet is represented at as many events, seminars and festivals as possible. In the last year, we partnered with the city economic development office and Charlotte Sister Cities on the Mayor’s International Business Breakfast for leaders of Charlotte/Mecklenburg’s foreign-owned firms.We modeled this event on the very successful breakfast conversations that are sponsored by the Charlotte Chamber and offer an opportunity to dialogue with the mayor. As many of our international businesses are not accustomed to an informal conversation with a high-ranking city official, we are currently restructuring this event. Rather than inviting all 650- plus firms to one breakfast, we will hold several smaller events where it is more comfortable for the attendees to interact with and express their concerns to the mayor. The Cabinet does not do any direct programming on an ongoing basis with the exception of one big event, The Mayor’s International Community Awards (MICA), each spring. The MICA event was begun in 1998 as a way to recognize the corporate philanthropy of our foreign-owned firms. It brings together international businesses, elected officials and local businesses that support international affairs and international business development.We obtain sponsorship from major companies and encourage these sponsors to use the event to sell our city as one receptive and welcoming to international business people.
The wise citizens who formed the Mayor’s International Cabinet in 1992 gave us a strong vision of an international city and a solid framework from which to be a catalyst in the cooperative internationalization of our area. All indications are that strong international growth will continue for the near future in Charlotte/Mecklenburg, and the Mayor’s International Cabinet will continue to be a partner in their integration into our culture and economy.
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