The real job creators in major cities such as New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Houston and many others are immigrant entrepreneurs that are bringing foods and other products from their nation of origin to the one they've adopted.
"Immigrants have been the entrepreneurial spark plugs of cities from New York to Los Angeles," said Jonathan Bowles, the director of the Center for an Urban Future, told The New York Times. "These are precious and important economic generators for New York City, and there's a risk that we might lose them over the next decade."
The risk, say those who have studied immigrant contributions, is that while individuals from these groups are an economic engine, they are largely ignored by local government nor given access to services that can take their small businesses to national and even international heights.
Many immigrant business owners seem to be doing well even without help. Demographic trends are on their side as immigrants and their children become a larger portion of the American population.
Companies such as Rajbhog Foods, which started out as an Indian sweets shop in Queens, found a growing audience as more immigrants came to the New York borough and also started to populate other areas around the country.
Today, Rajbhog Foods sells its vegetarian product line to stores in 41 states and Canada. Today's Rajbhog's consumers are not just Indians or children of immigrants but are from other ethnic backgrounds, as well. The company has developed a new line of frozen entrees, made less spicy for American tastes.
Manuel Miranda and his mother run a family business, Delicias Andinas, that produces a Colombian flatbread known as arepas. The company produces 10 million arepas a year, mostly for Colombian consumers.
Mr. Miranda believes that arepas have the same type of market potential as bagels. He is coming up with innovations such as a toaster version and has sought distribution through a website for national sales. However, progress is hindered by his lack of experience with mass production and distribution.
"I don't have the connections. I don't know the people who can advise how to take us to the next level," he said.
A couple of years back, Mr. Miranda said, he was having trouble with the high cost of disposing of corn leftovers from the arepas. A city agent was able to put him in touch with a recycler and now his waste goes to hog farms.
"For us, it was a big deal," he said. "Right now, I don't need money. I need knowledge."
Discussion Questions: Do demographic trends suggest that immigrant-owned companies will become more influential in the future or will assimilation make that a non-issue? What recommendations do you have for companies such as Delicias Andinas that are looking to take its business to the next level?