Poster initiative represents one piece of the St. Louis Mosaic Project, which aims to Make St. Louis the fastest growing U.S. metropolitan area for immigration by 2020.

ST. LOUIS, MO., September 13, 2013

As the nation prepares to celebrate National Welcoming America Week September 15 – 22, 2013, the Bi-State Development Agency is introducing new multi-language posters on its MetroBus vehicles and MetroLink trains designed to welcome St. Louis’ foreign-born population to our region’s transit system. Featuring the word “hello” in 17 different languages and providing a number that individuals can call for help using transit, the posters are being installed on all MetroBus vehicles and MetroLink trains throughout the Metro transit system.

The posters are one part of a larger region-wide effort aimed at attracting a greater immigrant population to St. Louis. Known as the St. Louis Mosaic Project, the initiative was created after a 2012 study by Jack Strauss, Ph.D., Director of the Simon Center for Regional Forecasting at St. Louis University, revealed that the St. Louis region has a low representation of immigrants compared to similarly-sized metropolitan areas in the United States. Noting the positive impact the existing immigrant population has had on the region related to their entrepreneurial spirit and the talented workforce they provide, the St. Louis Mosaic Project is designed to attract, support and retain new residents to spur growth and secure the economic future of St. Louis with the ultimate goal of making the region the fastest growing U.S. metropolitan area for immigration by 2020.

“The St. Louis region enjoys a long and proud history of immigrants who built businesses and strengthened our community, and our region’s future now depends on how well we welcome the next generation of immigrants and innovators. Together, we will make St. Louis a more attractive place for people to live, work and invest,”

Said St. Louis Regional Chamber President & CEO Joe Reagan, a member of the Mosaic Project’s steering committee. With so many of our area’s foreign born residents currently using MetroLink and MetroBus services and future immigrants poised to do the same, Bi-State Development Agency (Metro) President and CEO John Nations also has been an active member of the steering committee, and he believes the poster initiative is a great way to show those riders that they are welcomed and valued customers.