(From left) Tim Nowak, Executive Director of the World Trade Center STL; Kathy Osborn, Executive Director of the Regional Business Council; Jack Strauss, Simon Chair of Economics at St. Louis University; John Nations, President & CEO of Metro/Bi-State; The Hon. Ann Wagner, US Congresswoman for MO Second District; Anna Crosslin, President & CEO of International Institute of St. Louis; Bob Fox, entrepreneur and Chair of Casa de Salud; Rodney Crim, Executive Director of St. Louis Development Corporation; Joe Reagan, President & CEO of St. Louis Regional Chamber; and Denny Coleman, President & CEO of St. Louis County Economic Council

On February 27 Anna Crosslin, Institute president, traveled to Washington DC with fellow members of the St. Louis Immigration & Innovation Steering Committee. There they briefed members of the Missouri and Illinois congressional delegations on the economic advantage of attracting new immigrants to the region.

Meetings were held with Senators Roy Blunt and Claire McCaskill and with Reps. Ann Wagner (MO 12th District) and Bill Enyart (IL 12th District). Additionally, they met with staff of MO Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (MO 1st District) and IL Senators Mark Kirk and Dick Durbin.

The goal of the meetings was to raise awareness among our elected officials about the important role immigrants can play in helping revitalize our region's economy. A recent study by economics professor Jack Strauss reveals that immigrants are 60% more likely to start businesses. For full report, click here. And they are an important source of new population for a region that has been experiencing significant population loss.

"Historically, each wave of new immigrants replaces those who after a generation move from the city to the suburbs," said Crosslin. "St. Louis' population loss is more severe than elsewhere, because too few new immigrants are choosing to move here."

The following day Crosslin also participated in the Chicago Council of Global Affairs public release of their latest report, US Economic Competitiveness at Risk: A Midwest Call to Action on Immigration Reform. In a panel discussion at this conference, St. Louis Regional Chamber President & CEO, Joe Reagan, remarked "in a global, knowledge-based economy, we need to attract people to succeed." Other speakers included Richard M. Daley, former Mayor of Chicago.