Founded in the year 1848 by German immigrants lead by Dr. Hermann Blumenau, the city is recognized as the symbol of German colonization. Today it has a strong economic position that is many faceted and steadily growing. Here the largest textile manufacturer in Latin America and the second largest in the world can be found. All this industrialization has not adversely impacted the quality of life because industry makes a large investment in ecology. Blumenau's economy is one of the best developed in Santa Catarina, primarily furniture, and sports fashions. The municipal government is committed to cooperation with private initiatives through the Kongressbiro, an group which organizes the exhibition of the metal-industry, clothing-industry, and medicine that are produced locally