4/13/98

Contacts:
Vanessa Burnett, Sociology, (515) 294-4095
Terry Besser, Sociology, (515) 294-6508
Brian Meyer, Agriculture Information, (515) 294-0706

ISU TO HOLD SEVEN FORUMS ON JOB QUALITY IN RURAL IOWA

AMES, Iowa -- Jobs in rural communities often involve low pay, long hours, long commutes and low job security. In April and May, seven forums will be held around the state to discuss the quality of jobs in rural Iowa.

The forums, sponsored by Iowa State University Extension and the Northwest Area Foundation, will feature representatives in extension, economic development, small businesses, labor, social justice, government and other areas. They will provide information and seek input on issues that include:

• Trends in Iowa job quality and what they mean for communities
• What it takes for a family to subsist in rural Iowa
• Relationship between rural housing and quality jobs
• State and local policies affecting job quality
• The working woman and job quality
• Community strategies for generating quality jobs
• Workforce development and women with children

The meetings are part of Quality Jobs for Quality Communities, a project to provide information and support to help communities design development strategies that result in high-quality jobs. Three Iowa communities will be selected for a pilot program.

The forums are free and open to the public. Pre-registration is not necessary. Dates and locations are:

APRIL 21 -- NORTHWEST IOWA
4-6 p.m., Lakeside Presbyterian Church, Storm Lake

APRIL 23 -- SOUTHWEST IOWA
4:30-6:30 p.m., Corning Community Center, Corning

APRIL 27 -- SOUTH-CENTRAL IOWA
4:30-6:30 p.m., Lamoni Community Center, Lamoni

APRIL 30 -- SOUTHEAST IOWA
4-6 p.m., Kalona Area Chamber of Commerce, Kalona

MAY 4 -- NORTHEAST IOWA
4-6 p.m., New Hampton Community Center, New Hampton

MAY 7 -- NORTH-CENTRAL IOWA
10 a.m.-noon, Iowa Falls (location to be announced)

MAY 16 -- CENTRAL IOWA
10 a.m.-noon, Scheman Building, Iowa State Center, Ames

The central Iowa forum will be broadcast to the following ICN sites: Clear Lake High School, Clear Lake; Luther College, Decorah; Denison High School, Denison; Iowa Wesleyan College, Mount Pleasant; Shenandoah High School, Shenandoah; Sioux Center Middle School, Sioux Center; Kirkwood Learning Center, Tipton; Kirkwood Learning Center, Vinton. Before the broadcast, contact your county extension office to confirm the ICN sites.

For more information, contact Vanessa Burnett, ISU Extension, (515) 294-4095.

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