The Impact of Immigration on Small to Mid-Sized Iowa Communities
- Gary Bickmeier (Iowa State University)
Abstract
In 2000, Keokuk County; Iowa, was in the enviable position of having very low unemployment and two manufacturing firms wanting to hire more workers than the county could supply. During the winter of 2000–2001 a team of nine Iowa State Extension staff and community volunteers visited four Iowa communities which had experienced a major influx of Hispanic immigrants. The visits were designed to learn both the positive and negative aspects that each of the communities experienced concerning Hispanic immigrants. The project resulted in Pub. 1879, which relates the findings, and in a PowerPoint presentation. Both the publication and the PowerPoint give Iowa citizens a clearer understanding of the benefits, potential pitfalls, and possible solutions associated with Hispanic immigrant workers. The PowerPoint helps listeners think through and thoroughly examine their beliefs concerning immigrant workers. Everyone taking part in the program will learn about the complexities that both the immigrant and the communities that they become a part of have to face.