The New American Program

Welcome to the City of Columbus! We are the 14th largest city in the United States, and our community is made up of more than 155,000 people who were born in other countries. Our city also has at least 330 businesses owned by people from different countries, and 6,700 students from around the world. More than 100 languages are spoken in Columbus. This mix of cultures makes our city strong and vibrant.

The City of Columbus New American Program is here to help immigrants and refugees fully take part in and contribute to the economic, civic, social, and cultural life of our city. We do this by working on policies, programs, services, and getting the community involved.

The New American Leadership Academy
The New American Leadership Academy is one way that the Department of Neighborhoods empowers individuals to become advocates for their communities. By empowering New American leaders, we can ensure that everyone has a voice.

New American Program Areas of Focus

• Civic Responsibility: We encourage new Americans to actively participate in our city's government and civic organizations.

• Leadership Development: We offer professional training to help new Americans get involved in civic activities through the New American Leadership Academy’s (NALA). The NALA program lasts eight months and applications are open in the fall of each year.

• Language Access: We provide translation and interpretation services in multiple languages for all City Departments so everyone can communicate effectively with their City government.

• Partnerships: We collaborate with City Departments and community partners on common issues and community projects and work to involve new Americans in these processes.

• Equity and Innovation: We strive for fair opportunities and work to remove causes of tension by promoting understanding and collaboration through partnerships with community stakeholders.

Resources

The Department of Neighborhoods works with partners in the community to ensure that the needs of our diverse population are being met. The following organizations serve the New American community in Columbus.

In addition, should you need help locating a resource, feel free to reach out to Abdi Soofe, New American Program Coordinator at (614) 645-1952 or AHSoofe@columbus.gov.

The 2024 New American Leadership Academy Resource Guide(PDF, 586KB)
Compiled by the 2024 Cohort of the New American Leadership Academy.

AACS Asian American Community Services
4700 Reed Road, Suite B
Upper Arlington, OH 43220
(614) 220-4023

BCCO Bhutanese Community of Central Ohio
4646 Tamarack Blvd
Columbus, OH 43229
(614) 396-8965

CRIS Community Refugee & Immigration Services
1925 Dublin Granville Rd Suite 102
Columbus, OH 43229
(614) 235-5747

ETSS Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services
1060 Mt. Vernon Ave
Columbus, OH 43203
(614) 252-5362

Ohio Hispanic Coalition
100 East Campus View Blvd.
Columbus, Ohio 43235
(614) 840-9934

SomaliCAN
4900 Reed Rd #331
Columbus, OH 43220
(614) 489-9226

US Together
1415 E Dublin Granville Rd. Suite 100
Columbus, OH 43229
(614) 437-9941

2025-2026 Civic Integration Seed Grant

The Civic Integration Seed Grant is one of many initiatives of the City of Columbus Department of Neighborhoods New American Program. This grant helps create access to funding for organizations that serve New Americans to either help strengthen their capacity to serve or foster community building, youth engagement, civic education and resource-sharing efforts aimed at serving new arrivals.

Application opens: Sept. 9, 2025 at 12:00 p.m.

Deadline for submission: Oct. 9, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

Maximum grant amount: $10,000

Area of work: Improving the quality of life of New Americans

Applicant type: Nonprofit

Funding uses: Civic integration and enhancing quality of life of New Americans

Location of the work: Columbus, Ohio

These grants will support and assist with the unique and emerging needs of the growing immigrant and refugee community in Columbus. They will provide supportive services that meet the cultural and linguistic needs of newly arrived residents. The grants can fund both new and existing projects or programs. These programs will help activate integration, civic participation and the pursuit of the citizenship process. Funding will be provided through the New American Program.

Of special interest are newer organizations that focus on the need for urgent community programming that assists capacity building, civic integration, youth and civic engagement, and emergency situations.

Funding

Applicants can request up to $10,000 for projects that improve the quality of life of New Americans, immigrants and refugees. If awarded, grant amounts may vary depending on the Review Committee’s recommendations.

Eligibility

Applying organizations must meet the following requirements:
- Be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
- Serve New Americans, immigrants and refugees
- Have a professional office location within the city limits of Columbus
- Be a vendor with the City at the time of application or have started the vendor application process by the application submission deadline
- Be registered with the Secretary of State

Click Here to Apply!