The BIG Partnership
Business & Immigration for Georgia
The BIG Partnership is an initiative of the Coalition of Refugee Service Agencies (CRSA)
Since 2012, the Coalition of Refugee Service Agencies (CRSA) has been providing direct services to Georgia's refugee and immigrant communities. Through this work, CRSA members discovered a need to strengthen the relationship between Georgia's business and immigrant communities.
In response to this issue, the CRSA founded the BIG Partnership in 2020 to bring together civic and business leaders committed to enhancing Georgia's economy by tapping the potential of the state's foreign-born community. With over two dozen members already, the BIG Partnership continues to grow and carve a path toward greater prosperity for all Georgians.
To connect with the CRSA, please visit our website or social media pages:
How Refugees and Immigrants Fuel Georgia's Economy
Georgia’s Thriving Refugee and Immigrant Community: Immigrants and refugees make up over 10% of Georgia’s population and play a critical role in the state’s economy.
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Georgia has the 9th largest immigrant population in the U.S., with Atlanta ranked as #2 region in the nation for foreign-born population growth.
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In 2018, immigrants in Georgia held $26.3 billion in spending power and paid $9.8 billion in local, state and federal taxes.
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Georgians who are foreign-born make up a substantial portion of Georgia voters, with nearly ½ million eligible to vote in the state.
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Georgia has one of the most successful refugee resettlement programs in the country. Approximately, 90% of refugee households are working and self-sufficient within 6 months of arrival.
The Vital Partnership Between Georgia’s Business & Immigrant Communities: Georgia businesses have developed a powerful partnership with the state’s refugee and immigrant community, investing heavily in the foreign-born workforce. Refugee and immigrant workers are even more vital today, during a period of economic growth and workforce shortages.
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1 in 7 Georgia workers is foreign-born.
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Foreign-born Georgians own 31% of Georgia’s main street businesses, despite comprising only 10% of the population.
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During today’s rural healthcare crisis, more than 10% of nurses and medical assistants and 17% of doctors are immigrants.
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Georgia’s poultry industry contributes more than $18.4 billion to the economy each year and relies heavily on foreign-born labor.
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73% percent of US businesses employing refugees reported a higher retention rate for refugees than for other employees.
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Today, Georgia refugee serving agencies report they can no longer fill the number of requests for refugee workers coming from businesses across the state.
