Wednesday webinar to discuss connection between immigrants and rural economies during the pandemic

The Aspen Institute will hold a free webinar at 2:30 p.m. ET Wednesday, Aug. 19, to discuss the links between immigrants and rural economies, and how they affect each other in the coronavirus pandemic. The webinar will last an hour, and will be followed by peer-learning breakout sessions starting at 4 p.m. Click here for more information on the webinar or to register.

The webinar is the second in the Aspen Institute's Rural Opportunity and Development Session series. From the website: "Immigrant workers and their families are a dynamic force behind recent population upturns or stabilization across rural America. In fact, between 2010 and 2016, immigrants from around the world were responsible for 37 percent of net rural population growth.

"Rural communities that rely on the economic drivers of tourism and recreation and essential services like health care and food production have been hit hard by the impact of covid-19. Due to multiple risk and systemic factors, the many immigrants employed in these rural industries have been disproportionately affected and face enormous challenges, as do the rural communities where they live and work."