Nashua Designated As Certified Welcoming Place By National Nonprofit

NASHUA, NH — Welcoming America, a national nonprofit organization, announced on Monday that Nashua was one of five places designated — or redesignated — as Certified Welcoming places.

Nashua becomes the first city in New Hampshire to receive the designation, which takes into account several factors, including how effectively cities and counties include immigrants.

Portland, Maine also was designated as a Certified Welcoming place, joining Nashua as the first two New England cities to receive the honor.

Meanwhile, the City of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the Louisville, Kentucky Metro Government and Salt Lake County, Utah, were redesignated as Certified Welcoming places.

According to Welcoming America, there currently are 18 Certified Welcoming cities and counties across the United States, with nine in progress to achieve the designation. By 2026, the organization said it hopes to see 50 communities become Certified Welcoming places.

"We are pleased to announce a new round of leaders in the growing movement to create communities where everyone — including people who migrate — can belong and prosper," said Rachel Perić, executive director of Welcoming America. "These local governments are leading the way and showing how cities and towns can partner with Welcoming America to put their welcoming values into action."

For cities or counties to become Certified Welcoming, they first must undergo a rigorous audit, according to Welcoming America.

During this process, the city or counties are evaluated for how well their policies and programs meet the Welcoming Standard, which is a set of framework areas that define what welcoming communities should be.

On its website, Welcoming America lists the seven categories that comprise the Welcoming Standard, each of which has core and additional requirements. In order for communities to achieve Certified Welcoming status, they must meet the core requirements within each category.

The categories are:

• Government leadership
• Equitable access
• Civic engagement
• Connected communities
• Education
• Economic development
• Safe communities

Based on the audit, the city or county may receive an action plan to resolve any gaps and help the city or county work toward full compliance with the Welcoming Standard, Welcoming America said.

One of the ways that Nashua has worked toward its designation is by investing heavily in language access services to ensure that community members can receive government services and information.

"The city of Nashua, New Hampshire, is so pleased to officially receive this designation," Nashua Mayor Jim Donchess said. "In practice, we have always strived to be a welcoming city to all; having this recognition helps us reinforce the assertion that we are passionately dedicated to ensuring that everyone feels safe and supported here in Nashua."

Donchess continued: "Our cultural diversity is what makes our city the vibrant, exciting place it is, and we are happy to share this wonderful certification news with our community.

Nashua has announced an official roll-out event to celebrate the Certified Welcoming designation. It is scheduled from noon to 2 p.m. on Nov. 12 at the Adult Learning Center, located at 4 Lake St. The event will include refreshments and words from Donchess. More information will be announced at a later date.

In 2016, the City of Nashua adopted legislation to officially become a Welcoming City. But according to officials, that status was self-designated via legislation. The most recent designation is based on meeting the Welcoming Standard.