Earlier this year, Immigration research Initiative partnered with E Pluribus, Global Detroit, and the Build from Within Alliance to produce a report on how immigrants contribute to local economies as small business owners.
The report found that immigrants make up 21 percent of all self-employed, incorporated business owners in the United States and 27 percent of Main Street business owners—including grocery stores, nail salons, and barber shops among others.
Now, E Pluribus is building on that work, and will establish its own Immigrant Entrepreneurship Peer Network, a coalition of business owners and supporters who will work together to help connect immigrants who own their small businesses to vital resources and opportunities and help grow.
Participants in the Immigrant Entrepreneurship Network will help folks gain access to business support programs, exchange practical tools from successful business models, and explore approaches to challenges every business owner faces.
The program is free for anyone to join and includes seven sessions aimed at helping immigrant entrepreneurs learn from one another as well as key supporters about how to grow their businesses and reach.
The program will run from October 2026 through May 2027. People who are interested should fill out an interest form by September 28, 2026. Help spread the word by sharing the interest form with an immigrant entrepreneur!