Introduction
Roanoke, VA is a growing city with a population of around 100,000 people. Approximately 10% of its residents have limited English proficiency and face challenges accessing city services. To address this issue, the Community Engagement Office of Roanoke began offering information and resources in Spanish, the second most widely spoken language in the city. They also established a bilingual incentive pay policy for current and prospective employees who demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English who can assist non-English speaking residents in accessing basic resources and services, such as health emergency services, education, and legal support.









