13151 W. 10 Mile Rd. Oak Park, MI 48237 PH (248) 546-4400 Sale prices are in effect Thursday, July 28th to Monday August 8th Michigan Grown Amish Valley Extra large eggs 101000 Fresh Sweet Corn in the husk Arthur Horwitz, center, shares a laugh with Gov. Rick Snyder, left, and other panelists at last week's conference on immigration. Can Immigration Save Detroit? Confab suggests influx could stem state's population loss, boost economy. T he recession hit Michigan sooner, longer and harder than any other state in the country, and politicians and policy makers need to look at every angle to help revitalize the state's economy. Last week, they did just that at the New Michigan Media Conference at Wayne State University, which exam- ined the role immigration could play in boosting Michigan's economy. New Michigan Media, a network of 140 ethnic and minority media throughout the state, of which the Jewish News is a founding member, hosted the conference, which focused on "Immigration and Michigan's Economic Future." Approximately 500 people attended. Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, who has embraced immigration as a way to repopulate Michigan and boost the economy, delivered the keynote address. "Immigrants are an integral part of Michigan's past, and we want them to be a big part of its future," Snyder said. "It's clear that immigrants with advanced college degrees can be a positive force in creating economic activity that benefits everyone." New York City Michael Bloomberg spoke at the conference via teleconfer- ence on a panel discussion called "Can Immigration Save Detroit?" He noted that New York City's many immigrants helped to limit the city's job loss to only 1 percent in the recent reces- sion compared to a national average of 6 percent. "Immigrants make jobs rather than take them," he said. Detroit city councilman Ken Cockrel Jr., who was also on that panel, said while immigration might not save Detroit, it should be a critical com- ponent of the city's revitalization efforts. Arthur Horwitz, publisher and executive editor of the Jewish News, moderated a panel discussion later in the day on why focusing on immi- grants makes economic sense. "Every study and every data point underscore the tremendous positive economic impact immigrant com- munities have on the regions in which they settle. In Michigan, 33 percent of high-tech startup firms over the past 10 years had at least one foreign-born founder. Immigrants are also three times more likely to start a business than non-immigrants. Immigrants are job creators, consumers of goods and services, and critical to a revitalized Michigan," Horwitz said. "By extending a welcome mat for immigrants, including those who already live in New York, Los Angeles and other destination cities, we are also extending a 'welcome back' mat for our own children and grandchil- dren to reconsider building their eco- nomic futures in Michigan." The conference is only the first conversation Michigan needs to have about immigration, according to Hayg Oshagon, director of media arts and studies at Wayne State and founder and chairman of New Michigan Media. "It is essential that we all become engaged in this issue because it is a key to the greater pros- perity of our state he said. I l Read an editorial on immigration and the Jewish community: page 38. Natural And Kosher $899 Shredded Cheese 2 lb pk 18.7 oz Capt'n Crunch Berry Absopure Natural Spring Drinking Water 24pk 1/2 liter po Kraft BBQ Sauce Or 20 oz 4/$10°° 2/$10 Mid East Chick P5Thz c 0 i Peas Manischewitz Grape juice 2/$700 Rokeach Memorial Candles 2/5100 6 , gip. de 18 oz 10/$1000 Capt'n Crunch Cereal 64 oz o* Assorted tin can 4.-- 7.25 oz Box 7;MICARI*N1 Foulds Macaroni & 3/$100 Cheese 14 oz Bag Shindlers Pollock $299 Fillets Chef Cari Kosher Catering NOW in Farm Fresh Market Fresh Prepared Foods for Dine In or Carry-Out • Full Service Catering Parve Bakery • Glatt Kosher Under the Supervision of The Council of Orthodox Rabbis • Find us on facebook July 28 2011 9