In Southwest Wisconsin, food manufacturing employment is seven times higher than the national average due to a strong history of agriculture and family farms, but workforce shortages threaten its ability to sustain or retain local businesses. This project addresses the labor shortage by bolstering the immigrant workforce and fostering immigrant-inclusive economic development strategies. By integrating the immigrant workforce into the local economy, the aim is to recognize and celebrate the growing influence in the community. The ERC Fellow will work to unify employers and immigrant communities and to develop a comprehensive toolkit addressing the unique needs of international employment. The outcome will be a robust, well-integrated immigrant workforce, supported by an informed community navigator network. This impacts five-counties, enhancing the local economy and workforce, and fostering a welcoming, inclusive environment for immigrants and their families. Early success has the promise of a national model for a prosperous and diverse rural America with the fellow’s support. To learn more, visit https://economicrecoverycorps.org/fellow-information/francis-henn/