Inti Media highlights Economy League panel on immigration as economic infrastructure

Inti Media published a recap on February 10, 2026 — “Immigrants are the backbone of Philadelphia’s economy across sectors” — summarizing key themes from the Economy League’s January 29 panel discussion at Industrious, hosted in collaboration with FWD.us. Written by Jensen Toussaint (edited by Ericka Conant), the story highlights how leaders across healthcare, higher education, city government, small business, and hospitality described immigrants as foundational to Philadelphia’s growth, competitiveness, and civic identity.

Drawing directly on panelists’ remarks, the piece surfaces tangible examples and data points discussed during the event: immigrant-driven entrepreneurship and innovation (including examples from the Science Center), universities’ reliance on global talent and international students, and hospitality’s dependence on immigrant workers to keep restaurants and hotels running. It also captures the panel’s emphasis on the human and economic costs of policy instability—and closes with practical local actions raised in the discussion, from recruiting OPT-authorized graduates to investing in credential recognition, upskilling, and neighborhood-based economic development in immigrant communities.

Read the article here.