Following several decades of declining population, the Pittsburgh metropolitan area appears to be stabilizing — or even growing slightly. The latest census figures show the city suffered some small population losses in the early part of the most recent 100-year period studied, but modest population gains were seen in the final years of the period.

That’s good news for a region that saw dramatic population losses following the collapse of the domestic steel industry in the 1980s. Those population declines also contributed to what has been called a brain drain, with well-educated college graduates often forced to leave the region to find work.

Building a dynamic regional economy requires growth, not declining population. So, regional officials have tried to stem the exodus from the city.

Pittsburgh boasts many advantages, most often headed by a low cost of living. But the city’s appearance on numerous “best places to live” lists over the past decade also lists higher education, health care, arts and the environment as strong points.

A recently announced plan by the Pittsburgh Promise could help Pittsburgh move further in the right direction -- toward population growth and diversity.

The Promise, which is a program funded mostly by nonprofits that offers $40,000 college scholarships to city residents, recently announced a marketing campaign to attract more Hispanics to the city. That’s a worthwhile effort because the influence of Hispanics and Latinos is the primary reason other regions of the country have experienced population growth over the past few decades, while Pittsburgh has been shrinking.

Immigration, mostly of Hispanics or Latinos, has contributed to most of the growth recorded in the United States. The most recent census found that racial and ethnic minorities accounted for 92 percent of the nation’s growth over the past decade. The national birthrate is barely enough to replace those who die.

Without immigrants, New York City, San Francisco and Los Angeles all would have lost population in the mid-2000s.

Despite having a history dominated by immigrants, mostly from Europe, the Pittsburgh region — and most of Pennsylvania — lags the rest of the country when it comes to Hispanics and Latinos. In the United States, people classified as Latino or Hispanic represent 16.7 percent of the population and are the fastest-growing group in the country. In Pennsylvania, that same group of people represents only 5.9 percent of the population, less than half the national average. In Pittsburgh, the number is even smaller, with Hispanics and Latinos making up just 2.4 percent of the population.

In order to grow and create a more dynamic and prosperous economy and culture, Pittsburgh has to change. There have been promising developments in the city and region lately, but creating a more vibrant, diverse and younger population will fuel future growth.

The marketing effort by the Pittsburgh Promise, which is expected to target entrepreneurs, professionals and blue-collar workers, could help Pittsburgh welcome immigrants in numbers comparable to other cities in the United States.

Although several other cities are now offering scholarship programs similar to the Pittsburgh Promise, the city and region have many other assets to help draw enterprising immigrants to the city and nearby communities.

Despite its rich immigrant history, Pittsburgh has fallen behind other parts of the country in this crucial component to growth, economic vitality and cultural diversity. The Pittsburgh Promise is on the right track in its efforts to draw immigrants, particularly Hispanic and Latino, to Pittsburgh and the region.