In early 1921, the Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was home to one of the most affluent African-American communities in the United States. More than 70 businesses, mostly owned by Black Americans, lined up in just the 100 block of Greenwood Avenue in Tulsa. This single block was home to four hotels, two newspapers, eight doctors, seven barbers, nine restaurants and a half-dozen professional offices of real estate agents, dentists and lawyers. The economic success of Black entrepreneurs in Greenwood added to the striking image of Tulsa as America’s Black Wall Street.

The U.S. economy—which in 2020 produced $21 trillion-worth of goods and services—is powered by the interconnected web of roads, waterways, electrical grids, and communications, education, healthcare and childcare systems that make up its infrastructure. This infrastructure is in a state of disrepair, and “dangerously overstretched,” with a funding gap valued in the trillions. The United States invests less in infrastructure than its peers and substantially less than it used to. To compete in the 21st century, we must learn from our own past success and replicate the bold public investments that have supported each transformation of our economy in the past.

The COVID-19 crisis has brought renewed attention to the role of immigrants in the U.S. economy. Immigrants disproportionately work in the jobs labeled “essential” during the spring lockdowns in 2020, placing many of them on the front lines of the crisis. While initially immigrants were more negatively impacted by the coronavirus recession, immigrants are once again poised to play a vital role in the economic recovery and future economic growth. Their spending power, relative youth, high levels of involvement in STEM fields, and high rates of entrepreneurship make them key contributors to our economy.