GREATER LOUISVILLE INC. saw that few U.S. cities are persistently leveraging talented executives who immigrate to their communities. Now the Kentucky city is pursuing leadership in that domain.

Latest evidence: Tomorrow, Dec. 11, the Greater Louisville International Professionals (GLIP) initiative of Greater Louisville (which is the dba of the Louisville Area Chamber of Commerce), will host "Insights on Doing Business with Brazil," the latest in a series of luncheon programs.

Speakers for the Dec. 11 event include biopharma consultant and Brazil veteran Richard Voss, cross-cultural coach and GLIP/Brazil coordinator Victor De Oliveira, who is affiliated with ADP; and, international business consultant Rick Brown. Sponsors for the event include Wyatt Tarrant & Combs, Humana and ARGI Financial Group.

GLIP offers subgroups for "executive, professional and entrepreneurial immigrants" of nearly 60 nations, according to the GLIP webpage. Each nationality has its own programs, as well as their own webpages and a designated ambassador, or group coordinator. As of 29 November, the nation-groups with the largest memberships included India, Mexico, the UK, Brazil and others.

The GLIP notes that "surprisingly few U.S. cities are actively engaging the international talent already within their communities, much less pursuing tactics for growing this important segment of their population."

GLIP also notes that immigration serves "economic expansion, job-creation, innovation, and strengthening of the work-force, particularly in STEM fields," among other benefits. The GLIP complements the Louisville chamber's long-running efforts to recruit foreign direct (or, "reverse") investment.

The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce has a robust traditional international program, which is focused on foreign direct investment, serving as a source of information for international business and connecting global companies with needed resources, according to the Nashville Chamber website. Related brochure here.

The Nashville Chamber maintains on its site a list of nation-specific nonprofits within Middle Tennessee, and has for years maintained a push to recruit young professionals and creatives. V