The American Immigration Council and Welcoming America have announced the selection of over 10 local communities for the Gateways for Growth Challenge, aimed at enhancing immigrant inclusion and support.
WASHINGTON, D.C. & DECATUR, GA, December 15, 2025 — The American Immigration Council and Welcoming America, two prominent national nonprofits, have revealed that more than 10 local communities have been chosen to receive awards from the Gateways for Growth Challenge (G4G) as part of its sixth round. The selected communities will benefit from a combination of customized research, technical assistance, and planning support designed to develop strategies that enable all residents, including immigrants, to thrive and contribute fully to their communities.
The 2026 awardees encompass a diverse array of urban and rural areas across ten states, showcasing the extensive welcoming initiatives led by local governments, nonprofits, chambers of commerce, and community coalitions. Among the selected communities are:
Arlington County, Virginia
Charlotte, North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina
El Paso County, Texas
Fort Bend County, Texas
Johnson County, Kansas
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Mahoning County, Ohio
St. Louis, Missouri
Wabash County, Indiana
“For nearly a decade, the Gateways for Growth Challenge has empowered local communities to quantify the impact of their immigrant populations and invest in welcoming policies and programs,” said Rich André, Director of State and Local Initiatives at the American Immigration Council. “We are excited to collaborate with the new cohort to create opportunities for all residents.”
“This cohort represents local leaders who are dedicated to making their communities inclusive and supportive for everyone,” stated Molly Hilligoss, Senior Network Director of Welcoming America. “We are proud to assist them in transforming their welcoming values into actionable strategies.”
Since its inception in 2016, the G4G initiative has supported over 75 localities across 37 states. Participating communities have crafted welcoming plans that address critical issues such as language access, workforce development, civic participation, and social cohesion. Many of these communities have successfully passed welcoming resolutions, launched new programs, joined the broader Welcoming Network, and achieved Certified Welcoming status, a national recognition for communities that meet specific benchmarks for inclusion and hospitality.
For more information about the Gateways for Growth Challenge, visit gatewaysforgrowth.org.
About the Gateways for Growth Challenge
The Gateways for Growth Challenge (G4G) is a competitive opportunity for localities to receive research support and technical assistance from the American Immigration Council and Welcoming America, aimed at enhancing immigrant inclusion within their communities. Learn more at gatewaysforgrowth.org.
About Welcoming America
Welcoming America is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that leads a movement to create inclusive communities that thrive by ensuring everyone belongs. Through the Welcoming Network, the organization works to transform systems and culture by providing communities with the necessary roadmap to develop welcoming policies and share innovative approaches to inclusion. For more information, visit welcomingamerica.org.
About the American Immigration Council
The American Immigration Council is dedicated to strengthening America by shaping perceptions and actions towards immigrants and immigration. The organization advocates for a fair and just immigration system that opens doors to those in need of protection and harnesses the skills and energy that immigrants bring. The Council employs a multifaceted approach to advance change through litigation, research, legislative and administrative advocacy, and communications. Follow the Council on Bluesky @immcouncil.org and on Instagram @immcouncil.
For further details, refer to the original announcement from the American Immigration Council.