Independent businesses don’t appear out of nowhere. They’re started by people who decide to put down roots, take risks, open up shop, and invest in a community.
Across the country, immigrant-owned businesses are a visible part of that story. They’re restaurants, contractors, clinics, manufacturers, retailers, and professional services firms. They hire locally. They buy from local suppliers. They sponsor school events and community organizations. They become part of the neighborhood. They help revitalize previously declining neighborhoods. That’s not just anecdotal; it’s a real part of how our economy functions day to day.
The data confirms what many communities already experience. Based on the Minnesota Chamber Foundation study released February 2025, immigrant communities have been active contributors to recent population and workforce growth in the state. At the same time, national research shows immigrants are more likely to start businesses than the U.S.-born population and represent nearly a quarter of all entrepreneurs nationwide.
What matters most isn’t the stats, it’s the outcome: more independent businesses, more jobs, more customers, and more locally rooted economic activity.
Independent companies succeed when communities are vibrant and connected. When people have work, when neighborhoods grow, when new businesses open and existing ones expand, the ripple effects reach everyone.
Supporting immigrant-owned businesses shouldn’t be about charity or politics. It’s about recognizing contribution, fostering opportunity, and building economies that are durable because they’re diverse, interconnected, and locally invested.
As an independent agency, Media Bridge believes the strongest markets are the ones where all people are empowered to build, grow, and participate. Welcoming and supporting immigrant businesses helps create the kind of environment where opportunities compound rather than compete.
That’s good for business. It’s good for communities. And it’s how lasting economic strength is built. Rising tides, all boats and so on.