Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | November 12, 2018 | Worcester Business Journal 13 The Immigrant Entrepreneur in Worcester 2 Introduction Worcester, like most prominent American cities, was built by immigrants, who settled down, built homes and neighborhoods, and laid the groundwork for future generations to thrive. Worcester was also, like most industrial cities, built by business owners, who created jobs, products, and services that attracted more residents, spurring growth and development. These two forces have shaped Worcester together and separately. Entrepreneurial spirit is not exclusive to native-born Worcesterites, and newcomers have historically been important in the business community, a trend that continues in the present day. Nearly 22 percent of Worcester's population today is foreign-born, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and that high percentage of immigrants means many companies in the city were started by someone who is also starting a new life in a new country. Studying this population—immigrant business owners—can be difficult, however. While the federal government tracks broad demographic information, surveys of business owners or the foreign-born specifically are less comprehensive. While the scope of business and industry's impact on Worcester's economy as a whole are known, isolating how much of that impact is due to immigrant businesses is more difficult. Starting a business is difficult for anyone, but Worcester's immigrant business owners face unique challenges. Depending on their country of origin or background, they can face language barriers, racism, discrimination, cultural and systems differences, and a lack of a network of friends and family. Many foreign-born residents, including refugees, must overcome significant barriers just to gain admittance to the United States as well. The success of immigrant businesses despite these challenges is a testament to individual perseverance and a city and a community's ability to accommodate change. Worcester's Immigration History The City of Worcester has a long history of immigration, starting with its origins as a manufacturing hub. In 1870, out of a population of around 40,000 people, Worcester was 29 percent foreign-born. This was higher than the Massachusetts rate of around 24 percent foreign- born, and more than double the national rate at the time, which was around 14 percent. The vast majority of these immigrants—70 percent—were from Ireland, with smaller but still significant groups from Canada and England (see Chart 3). Nearly 100 percent of the foreign-born population was from Europe or North America—the census that year recorded 17 foreign-born Worcesterites from outside those two regions. Chart 2: Worcester Foreign-born Population by Continent of Origin Chart 1: Worcester Population, Percent Foreign-born Source: Decennial Census of the United States Source: Decennial Census of the United States

• Cover