NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Nashville Mayor Karl Dean is creating a new office that is dedicated to offering aid to the city's booming immigrant population.

A statement from Dean's office says he signed an executive order on Monday creating the Mayor's Office of New Americans. It will host a discussion on Oct. 2 to get community feedback on the best ways to engage and support immigrants living in the city.

According to the release, the number of immigrants in Nashville has more than doubled in the last 10 years — and 12 percent of the current population is foreign-born.

Dean says "embracing our growing diversity only makes our city stronger."