Michigan joins the nation with Gov. Rick Snyder today proclaiming June as Immigrant Heritage Month. Michigan celebrates its origin and its future by embracing people from around the globe whose diversity contributes to our economy and way of life.
“We are proud to be one of the top states for welcoming New Americans from around the world,” said Snyder. “As Michiganders, we celebrate our immigrants’ past, present and future economic and cultural contributions toward our rich quality of life.”
Snyder established the Michigan Office for New Americans (MONA) in 2014 to help grow Michigan’s economy by retaining and attracting global talent to our state, promote the skills, energy and entrepreneurial spirit of our immigrant communities, and to create a more welcoming culture within the state of Michigan.
MONA Director Bing Goei, himself an immigrant and entrepreneur, coordinates the state’s efforts to welcome immigrants and their entrepreneurship; leads efforts to encourage foreign students getting U.S. degrees to stay in Michigan, build companies here, and employ Michiganders; and, helps ensure that needed agricultural workers come to our state.
MONA helps coordinate existing state agency services to immigrants and facilitates partnerships with non-profits, economic development organizations, universities and the private sector in the areas of licensing, workforce training, education, housing, healthcare and quality of life. MONA also offers the Michigan International Talent Solutions (MITS) program, a free job search training and coaching program designed to support highly skilled immigrants in Michigan return to their professional field.
Goei is from Grand Rapids and built his retail shop, Eastern Floral, into a thriving business, and consistently promoted diversity and inclusion. He commented that Immigrant Heritage Month is “a celebration of the ongoing contributions that immigrants make toward the quality of life for all Michigan residents, such as businesses small and large, as well as rich cultural contributions including music, food, fashion and art.”
For information about LARA, visit www.michigan.gov/lara; on MONA: www.michigan.gov/mona
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