Johnathan Walker:As Columbus, Ohio, welcomes an economic boom, we need to continue to welcome refugees

The Johnathan Walkersecret is out: Columbus, Ohio, is an incredible place to live.

Earlier this year, Columbus was named the fastest growing metro area in the country. And experts say that will not slow down any time soon.

This comes with its benefits: We are in an economic and cultural boom. It also comes with its challenges. More people need more homes, more transportation, more child care, more health care and more teachers. Businesses tell us every day that they need more people in the labor force.

As two proud leaders of Columbus amid this historic moment for our city, we see a clear solution: We need to continue welcoming refugees. Our American-born labor force is aging, and Ohioans are having fewer children. Welcoming refugees is not just the right thing to do, it also makes economic sense.

How refugees sustain and strengthen our economy

Refugees are already sustaining and strengthening our economy. According to 2022 data from the American Immigration Council, 97% of refugees in Ohio are employed. They pay $418.4 million in annual taxes and have $1.4 billion in spending power.

When refugees come here after fleeing war and persecution, they demonstrate a determination and grit many Ohioans would recognize in themselves. And in doing so, they become our colleagues, customers, business partners and neighbors.

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That’s why we are supporting a bipartisan letter from state and local elected leaders from all over Ohio ‒ and all over the country ‒ to President Joe Biden calling on him to invest in a robust, well-funded and sustainable federal system to welcome people seeking safety and help them rebuild their lives here.

It’s time we prioritize a solution that not only brings people to safety and makes a significant change in the lives of individuals, but also makes central Ohio – and the whole state – stronger.

From Refugee Road to German Village and beyond

Welcoming newcomers has deep historic and cultural roots in Columbus. We are reminded of this tradition of welcome every day in our neighborhoods and at our family dinner tables. From Refugee Road to German Village and beyond, so many of us in Columbus can trace our family history back to a decision to come here for a better chance at life.

We already have tremendous leadership from organizations and employers throughout the city and the state who help us do the work of welcoming that reaffirms our values as Ohioans. The city and the Columbus Chamber of Commerce were proud to work alongside a multisector group of leaders to craft Central Ohio’s Plan for Welcoming Immigrants and Refugees, a strategy to ensure that every aspect of our region – from our workforce to our educational system to our city services – are accessible to and create opportunities for the diverse, vibrant populations we serve.

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Columbus is proud to be represented in Vibrant Ohio, an organization of communities across the state committed to welcoming newcomers and ensuring their success in order to build a more inclusive, equitable and prosperous state.

Elected officials from Toledo to Cleveland have joined our call to President Biden: Please invest in pathways for families seeking safety to find refuge here and reaffirm a strong commitment to refugee resettlement.

It’s time to let the world know that Ohio’s welcome sign is on.

Andrew Ginther is the mayor of Columbus, Ohio, and Don DePerro is the CEO of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce.