Partnered with the U.S. Heartland China Association (USHCA), our U.S. Heartland mayor delegation brought leaders from Carmel (Indiana), Sioux Falls (South Dakota), and Youngstown and Maumee (Ohio) to China in mid-November for the first time. These mayors represent small-medium sized cities in the U.S. Heartland region that are often overlooked. Despite small in population, these cities play influential roles in their regions.

Named “Beverly Hills of the Midwest”, Carmel, Indiana is home to the leaders of companies like Eli Lilly (Fortune 500), Anthem Insurance (Fortune 500), and Simon Property Group (Fortune 500), where Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is a major supplier of energy and consumer of energy industry hardware.

In the state of Ohio, Youngstown is a midwestern city falling within a region of America often referred to as the Rust Belt. Today, it is becoming a center of culture, entertainment and innovation with the revival of its downtown. Maumee is home of Fortune 1000 soybean and corn producer Andersons.

During the five-day visit, they have had in-depth and fruitful conversations with the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and government leaders in Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, as well as local private businesses. These visits helped both sides to understand more of each other – culturally and business-wise.

Members of the delegation include:

Bob Holden, Chairman and CEO, U.S. Heartland China AssociationJames Brainard, Mayor of Carmel, IndianaPaul TenHaken, Mayor of Sioux Falls, South DakotaJamael Tito Brown, Mayor of Youngstown, OhioRichard Carr, Mayor of Maumee, Ohio

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MAYOR'S COLUMN: TenHaken supports better U.S.-China relations