Strengthening Portal Neighborhoods

Immigration is dramatically changing cities. With immigrants fueling a projected population increase in the U.S. of 130 million over the next four decades, "Portal Neighborhoods" are being recognized as an important tool for integration and economic opportunity, according to a new report by CEOs for Cities. "Strengthening Portal Neighborhoods," released with support from Bank of America, identifies these neighborhoods as key to successfully integrating immigrants into the economic and social mainstream in America. It urges urban leaders to develop a new set of policies and strategies that take into account the purpose and functions of these neighborhoods, which continue to grow in importance as the immigrant population swells. The paper comes after CEOs for Cities convened national immigration experts in Miami in May 2006 to discuss these neighborhoods and develop recommendations for urban leaders.