How can municipalities become attractive for immigrants?

Welcome culture in municipalities

"How can municipalities become attractive for highly qualified immigrants?” In the research project of that same title inter 3 is examining promising instruments of urban construction and development politics in eight municipalities and is compiling recommendations of action for a local "welcoming culture” until July 2014. The project is supported by the Federal Ministry  for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety.

Goal: attractive municipalities for foreign skilled workers

The goal of the project is to increase attractiveness of German cities and municipalities for foreign skilled workers and to contribute to keeping Germany internationally competitive as a business location. To achieve this, promising instruments of urban construction and development policies are being identified which will serve municipalities to create incentives for qualified immigrants to settle and to establish a true welcoming culture. Until July 2014 the inter 3 team is developing answers to the questions:

What makes immigrants feel appreciated and welcome?

Which measures of urban construction and development policy are contributing to this?

What is crucial in the international competition for the best talents?

Result: Recommendations for action in local immigration policies

As a result, municipalities are receiving guidelines with recommendations of action for a promising local immigration policy. For this, inter 3 is initially examining in eight municipalities which urban construction and development measures those communities are undertaking to create a "welcoming and appreciating culture” for immigrants. The results will then be edited in a rating matrix. In addition, wanted posters for best practice examples with their local politics strategies will be produced. On this basis, statements on the effectiveness and transferability of the municipal measures can be made which decision makers will be able to use for the development of accurately fitting regional strategies in the future.

In a workshop discussion with representatives of the involved cities, local leading organisations, economic associations and migrant organisations, the investigative results will be presented, discussed and subsequently revised. Such an expert dialogue produces as a result recommendations for action on the federal, state and local level and for economic promotion which can also be applied in other municipalities.