Business leaders from the Albert Lea Chamber of Commerce showed their willingness to support the proposed Newcomer’s Resource Center in a panel discussion held at Riverland Community College Monday.

Tuesday, November 27, 2001

Business leaders from the Albert Lea Chamber of Commerce showed their willingness to support the proposed Newcomer’s Resource Center in a panel discussion held at Riverland Community College Monday.

Attempting to attract people from outside the county and bridge the gap between newly migrated population and area employers, the Chamber and Community Action initiated the idea of a Newcomer’s Resource Center.

The new center aims to provide information about employment opportunities and social services to the newcomers. It will also facilitate language and some human resources services for the employers interested in hiring the newcomers or doing business with them.

Referring to the necessity of the new center while the nation’s economic health goes downward and the unemployment rate in the county remains high, Chamber board member Randy Kehr said, &uot;We believe, as many people do, this economic situation is only temporary and things have to be planned in long term.&uot;

The newcomers, particularly the Hispanic population, are generally younger, Kehr said. The 2000 Census shows that 77 percent of the general population in the county is over age 18 while for the Hispanic population it is 60 percent.

&uot;Besides being an attractive workforce for employers, the younger generation would increase our tax base,&uot; Kehr said. &uot;They also have more discretionary income to spend with retail and other aspects in the community.&uot;

The Chamber has established a committee dealing with the diversity issue.

During a luncheon organized in June it assessed the interest of the business community in the services the Newcomer’s Resource Center would offer.

&uot;It sounded to us that many (businesses) are willing to join and take advantage of the center,&uot; Chamber President Allen Pelvit said.

The new center is waiting for the state’s decision on a $70,000 grant to start up its operation. Along with a $20,000 appropriation from the County Family Service Collaborative and other donations, Community Action representative Collette Turcotte said that she plans to launch the new organization next year.

In the long run, the center will generate its own funding source by introducing a corporate membership system and fee-based interpretation service.