HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2018.05.17 - 23625MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #18226
BY: Commissioners Michael J. Gingell, District #1; Bill Dwyer, District #14; Gary McGillivray, District #20;
Tom Berman, District #5; Bob Hoffman, District #2; Hugh Crawford, District #9; Eileen Kowali, District #6;
and Doug Tietz, District #11
IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS — DESIGNATION OF JUNE 2018 AS IMMIGRANT HERITAGE
MONTH 1N OAKLAND COUNTY
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies, and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS Immigrant Heritage Month is a national celebration during the month of June to recognize and
celebrate the accomplishments and contributions immigrants and their children have made in shaping the
history, strengthening the economy and enriching the culture of the United States; and
WHEREAS we have always been a nation of immigrants and throughout history immigrants from around
the globe and their children have kept the nation safe and protected, the workforce vibrant, kept
businesses across the country on the cutting edge and helped build a robust economy to compete in the
global market; and
WHEREAS generations of immigrants have come to the shores of the U.S. from all corners of the globe;
and as pioneers helped lay the railroads and build cities, develop new industries and fuel the Information
Age, from the telegraph to the smartphone; and
WHEREAS immigrants fought tirelessly in the Revolutionary War and continue to defend the ideals of our
country; between 2002 and 2015, more than 102,000 men and women, including individuals serving in
Iraq, Afghanistan, South Korea, Germany, Japan, and elsewhere, have become U.S. citizens while
wearing the uniform of the United States military; and
WHEREAS more than 70% of agricultural workers in the U.S. are foreign born and have kept farms
across the country in business that provide food to feed our families; and
WHEREAS immigrants start more than one-fourth of all new businesses in the U.S. and immigrants or
their children start more than 40% of Fortune 500 companies; and
WHEREAS those businesses collectively employ tens of millions of people and generate more than
$4,500,000,000,000 in annual revenue; and
WHEREAS our nation's immigrants have contributed vastly to the advances in technology and sciences;
and
WHEREAS between 2006 and 2012, 44% of new technology start-ups in Silicon Valley (widely known as
the international hub for technological development and innovation) had at least 1 immigrant founder; and
WHEREAS from 2006 to 2010, there were 30,223 new immigrant business owners in Michigan who had
total net business income of $1.8 billion (9.2% of all net business income in the state), according to
Robert Fairlie of the University of California; and
WHEREAS the work of immigrants has directly enriched our culture by influencing the performing arts
(from Broadway to Hollywood), academia, art, music, literature, media, fashion, cuisine, customs and
cultural celebrations enjoyed across the country; and
WHEREAS Oakland County is, and continues to be, home to thousands of immigrants who contribute
immensely to the economic, social, cultural and civic life of Oakland County; and
WHEREAS Oakland County has a long history of welcoming immigrants, with 11.5% of the County's
population being born in another country.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners hereby
designates June 2018 as Immigrant Heritage Month in Oakland County and encourages our citizens,
governmental agencies, businesses and schools to celebrate and honor our immigrant past and the
shaping of our immigrant future.
Chairperson, I move the adoration of the foregoing Resolution.
Commisdionfr Gary'McGillivray
District #20 V,
issioner Eileen\Kowall
Commissioner
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Commissioner Doug Tietz
District #11
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Resolution #18226 May 17, 2018
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the General Government Committee. There were no
objections.