Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | November 12, 2018 | Worcester Business Journal 21 national average, we took a different approach by partnering with the Worcester Regional Research Bureau for a by-the-numbers look at the immigrant community's impact on the economy. e results speak for themselves. Worcester's immigrants are more entrepreneurial, create an above-average amount of wealth, and attract customers well outside of their own cultural background. For the larger Worcester business community, this is an opportunity. While Trump's rhetoric is about stereotyping immigrants into one large group who will prevent him from making America great again, the more intelligent and beneficial way for businesses to engage with this community is on the ground level. Partner with Rosy and Marcos Reynoso, owners of Rosy's Beauty Salon and Rosy's Grocery, to learn how to better attract their Dominican clientele for your company. Emmanuel Larbi imports spices directly from Ghana for his restaurant Accra Girls; maybe he can help you import Ghanaian products for your business. Over the course of eight years, Brazil native Lilian Radke took a cleaning company with $350,000 in an annual revenue and built a $5-million behemoth. Chances are, this 2017 U.S. Small Business Administration Massachusetts Woman Small Business Owner of the Year might have some insight on how to better run your company. Much like Kennedy at Mechanics Hall discovered at naturalization ceremonies, engaging with immigrants is a rewarding experience. While Kennedy's was more of an emotional fulfillment, business owners can realize far more tangible results by working with people who have risked so much just to be in this country and are now undertaking exciting endeavors. Get to know Worcester's immigrants Support the WooSox public investments V I E W P O I N T E D I T O R I A L W hen Robert Kennedy, the former executive director of Worcester's Mechanics Hall, was feted at a retirement celebration this fall, he reflected among his favorite events to attend was the hall's annual naturalization ceremony for new citizens. Seeing immigrants from all walks of life receive this remarkable achievement is an upliing and inspirational experience. Naturalization ceremonies were also held this year at Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner and the Worcester Art Museum where hundreds of people living in our region became U.S. citizens. As our cover stories for this issue reflect, the path to citizenship in a country of immigrants is a well- worn road. roughout history, our cities have absorbed a larger portion of immigrants into their new home, and today is no different. At the turn of the 20th century, Worcester was riding a wave of immigrants from Europe, with the largest group coming from Ireland. Yet by the 1990s, immigrants had dropped from more than 30 percent of the city's population to under 10 percent. is downward trend has reversed itself as thousands of new immigrants have moved to Worcester from a new set of countries from around the globe. Immigration has been the source of divisive rhetoric in the United States since Irish immigrants stated landing in waves in the 1800s, but it has intensified since Donald Trump began his presidential campaign in 2015. Much of his political pandering is centered around fear- mongering and issues like language barriers and cultural assimilation. Here, in Worcester, where the immigrant population is larger than the W ith investment pumping into developments all over the city, people throughout Massachusetts are talking about Worcester. Yet, the public invest- ment largely spurring this revitalization has been maligned. Economists have warned against city's investment of $101 million for a 10,000-seat baseball stadium for the Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Maybe on its own the ball- park is a losing proposition, but in combination with the planned projects surrounding it – two hotels, apartments, restaurants, retail, parking and the re- configuring of Kelley Square – invest- ing public money is the right move. e City of Worcester, together with the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Worcester Busi- ness Development Corp., has accom- plished collaborative efforts bringing private, city, state, and federal funding and tax credits together, leading to growth in performance venues, the restaurant scene and downtown activity. Success comes from having a common vision and forging a new path. It is far too easy to do nothing and hope for the best. ere is a clear appetite for the surrounding development the ballpark will bring. e hotels – with a combined 250 rooms – are entering a market with a 77-percent occupancy rate. is demand comes despite a 50-percent increase in the number of hotel rooms since the start of 2016. e WooSox already have 19 corporate sponsors, who are expected to provide at least $3.1 million annually during the team's first five years in Worcester, including Polar Bev- erages, Fallon Health and Table Talk Pies. ere is talk of internships and aer-school programs, and parts of the new stadium will likely be open to the public for such things as the November Project to run the stadium stairs. e timing of the project couldn't be better. e city is in the midst of a boom fueled by Boston's economic strength and soaring real estate prices. Only 47 miles from Boston, Worcester offers lower rents, historic buildings, a nearby airport and an educated workforce from its nine colleges. Yes, investing nine figures in one project is risky, but Worcester now has a new energy. Residents here have al- ways had civic pride, so now with a path to success, it is not likely to flounder. Worcester has serious momentum going. Numerous private developers see it too and are making major investments in the city. It is all too easy to succumb to fear and negativity, but that never built a city. Worcester is experiencing something very rare. To have the leadership with foresight and wherewithal to capitalize upon it with a viable plan is equally as rare. We, as a com- munity, need to support and contribute to this momentum. We at Bowditch are impressed and proud to be a part of the renaissance of Worcester, so we are hosting our Fourth Annual Economic Development Summit: e Pitch for Growth on Nov. 13. Investors and developers will present their current projects in Worcester as they look to the future and discuss what is needed to build upon our momentum and stay ahead of the curve. Donna Truex is a partner at Worcester law firm Bowditch & Dewey LLP, with two decades of experience in real estate law. BY DONNA TRUEX Special to the Worcester Business Journal Donna Truex The Worcester Business Journal welcomes letters to the editor and commentary submissions. Please send submissions to Brad Kane, editor, at bkane@wbjournal.com. W W WO R D F R O M T H E W E B Tweets of the week "Or, y'know, they could pay a local artist using money instead of underpaying ... in pizza." - Mike M, @michaelbrazell, Nov. 4 on Rail Trail Flatbread Co. in Hudson offering free pizza to an artist who designs the winning art for take-out boxes "If you love Vision Advertising and the work we do, #vote for us as #bestadvertising agency, best woman-owned business and please write us in as #bestmarketing agency, for the @WBJournal Best of Business Awards. We thank you!" - Vision Advertising (@VisionRockStars), Nov. 7, on Best of Business voting, which closes Nov. 16 Facebook feedback "Worcester Red Sox...Don't lose the name that draws the crowd in." -Terri Guetti, Nov. 6, on the Pawtucket Red Sox possibly not calling the team the Red Sox after it moves to Worcester in 2021 "Those $8 slices at Fenway aren't keeping them afloat?" - Jay Gordon, Nov. 5, on Papa Gino's filing for bankruptcy and closing dozens of stores across New England

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