Lucy Fyler is communications assistant for the National Immigration Forum. Photo: Becoming citizens in a naturalization ceremony. Source: Grand Canyon National Park on Flickr.

In 2000, Marizza Contreras left her native Peru and immigrated to Miami to pursue her dream of a career in the hospitality industry.

After working in many capacities as a spa provider, she worked her way up to oversee the onsite luxury spa at The Betsy South Beach hotel.

Yet, despite all her hard work and dedication, Marizza was one of the 520,000 lawful permanent residents in South Florida who, despite their eligibility, struggled to apply for citizenship because of time or financial constraints.

Then in 2013, the Betsy Hotel joined New American Workforce, and several months later, Marizza attended her naturalization ceremony in Miami.

More than 130 businesses nationwide are currently helping their lawful permanent resident employees reach citizenship because of a partnership with New American Workforce. By connecting businesses with local immigrant service providers, New American Workforce, a project of the Knight Foundation-supported National Immigration Forum, seeks to help employees become full participants in the workplace, community and economy.

And the project is continuing to expand in cities around the country. In June, New American Workforce officially launched its partnership with the city of New York. To mark the occasion, the New York Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs and New American Workforce co-hosted a discussion with New York business and government leaders to highlight the importance of citizenship and immigrant integration.

The project grew out of the legacy of Bethlehem Steel, which, in 1915, became the first American company to offer English-language-learning services to their immigrant employees. Today, New American Workforce carries on that legacy in seven cities, where hundreds of businesses have held 178 citizenship workshops.

Partnerships with local legal service provider organizations, such as those affiliated with the New Americans Campaign, have helped guide 3,138 lawful permanent residents through the citizenship process, and tens of thousands have learned more about the benefits of citizenship.

These green-card holders are among the 8.8 million lawful permanent residents eligible for citizenship right now. Most of them are like Marizza — immigrants who’ve been working in their communities for years, paying taxes and contributing to the economy. Without citizenship, they lack the opportunity to access greater job opportunities, help their families reach the American dream, or become part of an engaged citizenry.

In that sense, New American Workforce is a win-win for businesses and employees. Workers receive critical help in the citizenship process while businesses are able to build workforce stability and encourage an inclusive work culture. Communities benefit from an increase in productive citizens, which can add millions of dollars to the local economy.

For a century, American businesses have strived to build a more productive workforce by offering assistance at the worksite for immigrant employees. Today, 130-plus businesses engaged in the next step of that effort are helping new American workers reach their dreams of citizenship — and helping all of us thrive.