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Portland Business Center for Immigrants Opens Doors

Jill Baker
/
Maine Public

A new business incubation center in Portland will focus on helping immigrants make connections to other businesses, and to the public.

Board member Caroline Jova provided a welcome in several different languages at the opening of the new Greater Portland Immigration Welcome Center on Monday. Supporters say the center will provide a collaborative workspace for nonprofits, startups and existing businesses.

Damas Rugaba, president of the board, says the center will also encourage collaboration with the public.

“Then we thought we could not achieve that if we don’t collaborate with immigrant groups, the community, business community, the clergy, government, so collaboration was key to this concept,” he says.

Rugaba says the center will also implement a digital language lab focused on teaching English, and will continuously work on building an inclusive democracy in the greater Portland area.