Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | November 12, 2018 | Worcester Business Journal 5 Continued on next page Immigrants a vital cornerstone of the economy Immigrants make up 22 percent of Worcester's population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and the data shows those foreign-born residents are more likely than native born people to be entrepreneurs – 36 percent of Worcester residents who re- ported working for their own business are immigrants. When polled online, the ma- jority of WBJ readers said foreign-born residents are cornerstones of the economy. F L AS H P O L L "We are all families of immigrants! Working hard to provide for our families and support our country." What level of contribution do you think immigrant business owners make to the Central Massachusetts economy? "My parents were legal immigrants from Canada in the 1950s. They and I are entrepreneurs. I also want to add that I am for legal immigration and immigrants becoming true American citizens and learning English as my parents did." "As I type, a competent immigrant worker is installing a new floor in another room. The company belongs to another young immigrant who is very professional and very effective." They are a vital cornerstone. 60% COMMENTS: They are an important supplement to businesses founded by native-born people. 18% They have limited impact as their customers are mostly limited to people from their own culture. 22% according to the WRRB report, citing U.S. Census Bureau data. About 2.6 percent of Worcester immigrants work in their own business, compared to 1.7 percent of the native-born population. "I didn't want to come all the way to America to be a waitress," said Joan Culbert, a native of Ireland who owns Emerald Meats on Chandler Street with her husband, Robert. With how difficult emotionally it was to leave Ireland, "we didn't want to live an ordi- nary life aer that." Foreign-born residents like Culbert, Koci and Larbi all echoed the same sen- timent about immigrant entrepreneurs: ey have already taken such a big leap just to be here. ey uprooted their lives in their home countries to take a chance a life in America would give them the economic prosperity not available in their native lands. "We all love business. It's in our blood," said Khalil Yatim, a native of Sierra Leone who partnered with his two brothers, Hassan and Tarek, to open a Gulf gas station on Worcester's Lincoln Street in 1993 and grew it to become Yatco Energy with 20 locations in Massachusetts. In a 2015 report, Worcester nonprofit Seven Hills Foundation found for- eign-born residents made up 18 percent of Massachusetts business owners versus 37 percent of Worcester business owners. e report affirms immigrants' ongoing role in the Worcester economy, which has been a factor for as long as foreigners have settled in the city, said Seven Hills president David Jordan. "at phenomenon has been true for 150 years," Jordan said. In 1870 when Worcester was founded, 29 percent of its 40,000 residents were foreign born, higher than the state and national averages of 24 percent and 14 percent, according to WRRB. e percentage of the foreign-born population has varied in the decades since but always outpaced the national average: Between 1870 and 1910, more than 25 percent of Worcester residents were immigrants (versus 15 percent nationally), but that number steadily dropped until hitting 10 percent in 1990 (versus 8 percent nationally) before rebounding to 22 percent (versus 14 nationally) today. If the American dream is for anyone to have an opportunity to live a com- fortable life for themselves, Jordan said, the biggest dream someone might have is to come to America and open up a business. "at's what they dream of," Jordan said. Immigrant businesses e majority of immigrant entrepre- neurs gravitate toward two industries: restaurants and other food service, and administrative and support services. Each sector accounts for 28 percent of Enton Mehillaj (above) and his wife Oriola Koci opened French restaruant Altea's Eatery after the success of Livia's Dish. foreign-born incorporated businesses in Worcester, according to the WRRB. As for the rest, 13 percent operate a retail business, 9 percent are in construction, and 6 percent are in transportation. A native of Afghanistan, Omar Sherzai had been living in Worcester for 30 years when he and his wife, Fowzia, opened Pomir Grill in 2012. He was working for Mazda in the automotive industry, and she at the Worcester Public Library. But starting in 2004, she made dishes for the North Quabbin Garlic & Arts Festival in Orange. ey quickly got feedback indicating maybe there was more to Fowzia's cooking. "Where's your restaurant? You don't Joan Culbert, a native of Ireland, has owned and operated Emerald Meats for nearly 15 years with her husband, Robert. PHOTO/EDD COTE

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