5/21/98

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

ISU SEEKS THREE TOWNS TO PARTICIPATE IN QUALITY JOBS PROGRAM

AMES, Iowa -- Iowa State University is looking for Iowa towns to participate in an experimental program that aims to improve the quality of jobs in rural areas.

Three towns with populations between 1,000 and 20,000 will be selected for the Quality Jobs for Quality Communities Project, an ISU program funded by the Northwest Area Foundation.

"Since the mid-1980s, many rural communities have felt that any job was better than no job," said Terry Besser, an ISU extension sociologist. "This has resulted in job-creation strategies that focus more on quantity than quality. That has meant low unemployment, yet many families need more than two jobs to meet their basic needs."

Besser said the three communities chosen for the pilot project will receive assistance to develop economic development strategies that take the quality of jobs into account.

Community groups of all kinds can nominate their towns. Preference will be given to applications representing teams of two or more groups. The application deadline is July 1. For an application and more information, contact Besser at (515) 294-6508.

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