The Rise of Asian-Owned Businesses in Massachusetts

Asian-owned businesses are following a very rapid growth trajectory in Massachusetts. In the last economic census from 1997 to 2002, they increased by 44 percent. This growth is nearly double the national gain of 24 percent for all Asian-owned firms in the United States and astounding when compared to the overall growth rate of 5 percent for all Massachusetts firms. Sales and receipts increased 20 percent in the same period, three times greater than the increase for all firms in the state. The growth in the number of paid employees was also three times greater than the six percent increase for all firms in Massachusetts. By 2002, there were 18,081 Asian-owned firms with sales and receipts of $5 billion and employing over 37,000 people. Professional, scientific and technical services had the largest annual payroll, followed by accomonations/food services, health care and retail trade. Whether as publishers, developers of healing and wellness centrs or as hair salon owners, Asian Americans in these businesses, and in countless other entrepreneurial pursuits, are changing the face of business ownership in the Bay State

Massachusetts Immigrants by the Numbers, Second Edition

Massachusetts Immigrants by the Numbers, Second Edition: Demographic Characteristics and Economic Footprint contains the most credible information to date on immigration in Massachusetts

Massachusetts Immigrants by the Numbers: Demographic Characteristics and Economic Footprint

Massachusetts Immigrants by the Numbers: Demographic Characteristics and Economic Footprint is the first ILC-commissioned study that looks across the contributions that immigrants make in all their roles as members of the Massachusetts community. It is a groundbreaking study that provides basic and new data about Massachusetts immigrants including pioneering compilations of data about immigrants as tax payers and consumers. This one report provides a comprehensive picture of immigrants' characteristics and their contributions as well as challenges to their effective integration into the economic and social life of the state. The ILC hopes that this study will reinforce its continuing mission to raise the visibility of immigrants as assets to America

Immigrant Entrepreneurs and Neighborhood Revitalization

Commissioned by The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc., this study examines the role of immigrant entrepreneurs in the revitalization of three Boston neighborhoods. All of these neighborhoods had undergone economic decline but rising immigrant populations in each have postively impacted their revival. In particular, the study looks at the role of immigrant entrepreneurs and their connection to Boston's community and economic development. It identifies the specific ways in which immigrant entrepreneurs contribute to the revitalization of their neighborhoods, centering on the perspectives of the immigrant entrepreneurs themselves. Business start-up, business operations, neighborhood relationships and future plans were covered in 35 interviews, augmented by input from key informants and census data. All in all, the immigrant businesses have proven to be engines of change that contribute to a feeling of stability. One is let with wonder and appreciation for what they have achieved for themselves and their communities

The Rise of Asian-Owned Businesses in Massachusetts: Data from the 2002 Economic Census Survey of Business Owners

Asian-owned businesses are following a very rapid growth trajectory in Massachusetts. In fact, Asian-owned firms increased by 44 percent in Massachusetts from 1997 to 2002. This growth is nearly double the national gain of 24 percent for all Asian-owned firms in the United States. Moreover, during the same time period, the number of all firms in the state expanded by only five percent. Similar comparisons can be made when looking at sales and receipts and number of paid employees. From 1997-2002, Asian-owned businesses in Massachusetts experienced an increase in sales and receipts of 20 percent. This was over three times greater than the increase for all firms in the Commonwealth. The growth in the number of paid employees in Asian-owned firms was also three times greater than the six percent increase for all firms in Massachusetts. Asian-owned businesses are located throughout the state. The top ten locales for Asian-owned businesses are bracketed by Boston in first place and Malden in the tenth slot. Boston is home to nearly three thousand Asian-owned firms and Malden is home to 385 such firms

Enabling the Asian American Electorate: 2003 Voter Registration in Eleven Massachusetts Cities and Towns

For many in Massachusetts’ rapidly growing Asian American community, political participation is a vehicle to expand opportunities. Involvement in the selection of public officials and casting votes on critical issues are important manifestations of civic engagement. This participation, while it may offer opportunities for Asian Americans, also poses some significant challenges. In order to vote, adult residents must be United States citizens by birth or naturalization, but that is not enough. Citizens must also be registered to vote. This report provides the most detailed information on voter registration and Asian Americans in Massachusetts ever assembled. It includes analysis by the Institute for Asian American Studies of recent data from the cities and towns in Massachusetts with more than 4,000 voting age Asian Americans. The information on voter registration is organized into three parts. The first section includes two different measures of voter registration: 1) the registration rate for Asian Americans of voting age, and 2) the registration rate for Asian Americans of voting age who are citizens. The second section examines the consequences of voter registration rates on actual and potential Asian American electoral influence by looking at: 1) the Asian American share of the voting age population, 2) the Asian American share of voting age citizens, and 3) the Asian American share of registered voters. The final section provides data on the party affiliations of Asian Americans who are registered to vote

Political Contributions by Asian Americans: An Analysis of the 2014 Massachusetts Gubernatorial Campaign

The Institute for Asian American Studies’ report on political contributions by Asian Americans in the 2002 Massachusetts gubernatorial campaign represented the first time that these contributions were systematically reported and analyzed.1 In that election, Asian Americans constituted 1.0% of all individual contributions. In terms of dollar value, those contributions accounted for 1.1% of the total dollar amount contributed. This report follows that initial study by examining Asian American political contributions to candidates for governor in 2014. The 2014 governor’s race was energized by the fact that two-term incumbent Deval Patrick chose not to seek re-election. Patrick’s decision touched off a spirited effort, particularly on the Democratic side, to select a nominee. The race also attracted candidates from parties outside of the Republican–Democratic mainstream—Evan Falchuk, Scott Lively, and Jeffrey McCormick. On the Republican side, Charlie Baker easily prevailed over Mark Fisher to secure the nomination. The Democratic primary was hotly contested among Donald Berwick, Martha Coakley, and Steve Grossman with Coakley prevailing as the Democrat’s standard bearer. In the final election, Baker defeated Coakley. The number of Asian American contributions in 2014 was 1,221. This figure was nearly double the number of contributions, 644, in 2002. Furthermore, the growth in Asian American contributions was significantly greater than the growth of overall contributions. Asian American contributions accounted for 1.1% of all contributions in 2014. The total dollar value of Asian American contributions rose to $297,884 in 2014 from$121,030 in 2002. The average Asian American contribution in 2014 rose as well to $243.97 from$187.93. The aggregate data on Asian American giving is augmented in this report by detailed information on number and dollar value of Asian American contributions to individual candidates who were active in the primary and final elections. Baker received the largest number of Asian American contributions followed by Coakley and then Grossman and Berwick

The Asian American Electorate in 2012: Estimates of Voter Registration in Eleven Massachusetts Cities and Towns

Massachusetts’ Asian American community continues to grow rapidly and accordingly Asian American electoral participation increases in importance. Voting is a vehicle to expand opportunities and to enhance their role in the selection of public officials and influencing public policies. This participation, however, does not come easily for some groups and especially for those with a large immigrant component such as the Asian American populations. To be eligible to vote, adult residents must be United States citizens by birth or naturalization, but that is not enough — citizens must also be registered to vote. This report provides detailed estimates of voter registration by Asian Americans in Massachusetts. Specifically it includes analysis by the Institute for Asian American Studies (IAAS) of recent data from the eleven cities and towns in Massachusetts with the largest voting age Asian American populations. The sizes of these populations range from 4,468 in Lynn to 48,017 in Boston. Data from this report will at times be compared to data from a similar IAAS study that was released in 2004

Massachusetts Immigrants by the Numbers, Second Edition: Demographic Characteristics and Economic Footprint

With this update to the original groundbreaking study of Massachusetts Immigrants by the Numbers in 2009, we continue to focus on the economic and social contributions that immigrants have made in building the vibrant Massachusetts economy. It shows that, despite heightened public debate, the demographic characteristics and economic trends of the state’s immigrant population have remained largely unchanged. Immigrants continue to have a positive impact on the Commonwealth