Around 400 foreign-born individuals move to Bowling Green each year, a trend that only seems to increase.

The International Center of Kentucky hopes its new building, which will host new and expanded programs, will help better meet the needs of the growing international community.

Local leaders, community partners and center volunteers gathered Friday for a ribbon cutting at the new building adjacent to the center.

“It was an emotional day because we have been longing to expand the International Center and increase programs, but it wasn’t possible,” Executive Director Albert Mbanfu said. “For about seven years, we’ve been struggling to get a new structure that will help us to expand the programs, and today, it came to fruition.”

Guests waved flags from over a dozen countries, from Bosnia to Saudi Arabia to Tanzania and more, representing the many nationalities served by the center.

Mbanfu said the new building, in part, allows them to expand their sewing program, which trains international residents in the hopes of landing them jobs at companies like Fruit of the Loom or allow them to start businesses of their own.

The center will also serve as a safe haven in the case of a natural disaster. The building is equipped with portable showers, a gas-powered generator, a solar charging station for small devices and a commercial kitchen that allows food to be prepared for those in need.

“The tornado of 2021 played a very big part for us to try to involve the center, to serve as a community hub,” Mbanfu said. “When the tornado happened, we were being called out to provide interpretation (and) provide transportation.

“When we were putting up this structure, we reached out to the Red Cross and they were more than willing to help us to put in things that will make the center a resilient hub.”

“Resilience hubs” like that at the shelter are organized by The American Red Cross’s local Community Adaptation Program across Warren County. Not all hubs serve as storm-proof shelters but can help provide day-to-day community resources most needed during disasters.

The center will also allow for new programs, such as computer learning classes that help refugees and migrants utilize the web for networking, job searching and more.

It will also house a domestic violence and trafficking victim program that helps connect survivors of abuse to resources and support.

City commissioners Sue Parrigin and Melinda Hill presented Mbanfu with a recognition from the city for the work done at the center.

Parrigin said around 13% of Bowling Green’s population is now foreign born, another reason the center’s work is increasingly important.

Mbanfu said he’s seen the need grow continuously in his 10 years as director.

“When I came here in 2013, we had a staff of about 20. Right now, we’ve grown to a staff of about 54,” Mbanfu said. “We had less than five programs in the office when I came, but as of today, we have an upward of eight, and with the center, we hope to have about 12 programs running.”

Thanks to the help of community sponsors, Mbanfu said the center’s expansion will go on to help thousands of international residents.

“Today, we are happy and delighted that we have this building,” Mbanfu said. “This building will motivate us to think deeper and wider on how to serve refugees we welcome in this community.”