2/18/99

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

COMMUNITIES TO EXPLORE QUALITY JOB OPTIONS AT FEB. 26-27 CONFERENCE

AMES, Iowa -- Rural Iowa residents will learn more about improving the quality of jobs in their communities at an Iowa State University conference Feb. 26-27.

The conference is part of the Quality Jobs for Quality Communities program, which provides information and support to help rural communities focus on developing high-quality jobs.

Conference participants will include teams of citizens -- business owners, employees, child-care providers, high school students and others -- interested in working on local job quality issues. The teams are from four communities that were selected last fall to participate in a pilot project to help design economic development strategies that match each community's job quality values. The communities are Rock Rapids, Cass County, Clarke County and Shelby County.

About 100 people are expected to attend. The conference also is open to others interested in job issues in rural communities.

Iowa Lieutenant Governor Sally Pederson will kick off the conference by speaking about her and Governor Tom Vilsack's vision to improve the quality of jobs in the state. A panel of state legislative leaders will discuss economic development for the new millenium. Dan Hunter, director of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, will speak on Iowa's quality of life.

The conference will cover topics that were identified in town meetings held at the four pilot communities. The topics, which were considered to be important components of job quality, include:

• improving child care in rural communities
• creative ideas to improve job benefits
• increasing the use of local suppliers and supply networks
• how small town retailers can work together to improve profits
• services to help small businesses improve productivity
• developing energy into a resource for the local economy
• value-added agricultural development strategies
• improving wages for women
• making communities inviting for new residents
• involving young people in community programs
• "back home" programs to encourage people to return to their hometowns
• using art for community development

During the conference the community teams will work on their goals and plans.

For more information, or to pre-register for the conference, call Marti Dettman, (515) 294-4095. Cost is $35, which can be paid at the door.

ISU Extension leads the Quality Jobs for Quality Communities project, with help from partners in USDA Rural Development, Iowa Association of Counties, Positively Iowa, National Catholic Rural Life Conference, Iowa Commission on the Status of Women, Iowa Newspaper Association, local economic development groups and other small-town representatives.

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