Three industries actively sought and helped bring Latinos to Georgia. The first was the agricultural industry, which viewed migrant workers as a source of cheap labor. For example, the poultry industry in Hall County actively recruited workers from Mexico to fill the vacancies in the chicken processing plants of Gainesville (known as the "poultry capital of the world"). Hall County recorded a 500% increase in the Latin American population during the 1990s.

The second rapidly growing industry was the carpet/textile manufacturers of Dalton located in Whitfield County Georgia. Needing to find cheaper labor in order to compete with world markets, business leaders also began to actively recruit Hispanic immigrants. The civic leaders of Dalton, known as the "carpet capital of the world," did their best to provide the immigrants with a welcoming environment. For example, the Georgia Project brought in teachers from Mexico to work in Dalton city and Whitfield County schools, and sent their native teachers to Mexico to learn Spanish. Their goal was to help make the schools, which are over 50% Hispanic, truly bilingual.

hTree industries actively sought and helped bring Latinos to Georgia. The first was the agricultural
industry, which viewed migrant workers as a source of cheap labor. For example,
the poultry industry in Hall County actively recruited workers from Mexico to
fill the vacancies in the chicken processing plants of Gainesville (known as
the “poultry capital of the world”). Hall County recorded a 500% increase in
the Latin American population during the 1990s. The second rapidly growing
industry was the carpet/textile manufacturers of Dalton located in Whitfield
County Georgia. Needing to find cheaper labor in order to compete with world
markets, business leaders also began to actively recruit Hispanic immigrants.
The civic leaders of Dalton, known as the “carpet capital of the world,” did
their best to provide the immigrants with a welcoming environment. For example,
the Georgia Project brought in teachers from Mexico to work in Dalton city and
Whitfield County schools, and sent their native teachers to Mexico to learn
Spanish. Their goal was to help make the schools, which are over 50% Hispanic,
truly bilingual.

Three industries actively sought and helped bring Latinos to Georgia. The first was the agricultural
industry, which viewed migrant workers as a source of cheap labor. For example,
the poultry industry in Hall County actively recruited workers from Mexico to
fill the vacancies in the chicken processing plants of Gainesville (known as
the “poultry capital of the world”). Hall County recorded a 500% increase in
the Latin American population during the 1990s. The second rapidly growing
industry was the carpet/textile manufacturers of Dalton located in Whitfield
County Georgia. Needing to find cheaper labor in order to compete with world
markets, business leaders also began to actively recruit Hispanic immigrants.
The civic leaders of Dalton, known as the “carpet capital of the world,” did
their best to provide the immigrants with a welcoming environment. For example,
the Georgia Project brought in teachers from Mexico to work in Dalton city and
Whitfield County schools, and sent their native teachers to Mexico to learn
Spanish. Their goal was to help make the schools, which are over 50% Hispanic,
truly bilingual.

hTree industries actively
sought and helped bring Latinos to Georgia. The first was the agricultural
industry, which viewed migrant workers as a source of cheap labor. For example,
the poultry industry in Hall County actively recruited workers from Mexico to
fill the vacancies in the chicken processing plants of Gainesville (known as
the “poultry capital of the world”). Hall County recorded a 500% increase in
the Latin American population during the 1990s. The second rapidly growing
industry was the carpet/textile manufacturers of Dalton located in Whitfield
County Georgia. Needing to find cheaper labor in order to compete with world
markets, business leaders also began to actively recruit Hispanic immigrants.
The civic leaders of Dalton, known as the “carpet capital of the world,” did
their best to provide the immigrants with a welcoming environment. For example,
the Georgia Project brought in teachers from Mexico to work in Dalton city and
Whitfield County schools, and sent their native teachers to Mexico to learn
Spanish. Their goal was to help make the schools, which are over 50% Hispanic,
truly bilingual.

Finally, the construction industry also sought immigrants. During their preparation for the 1996 Olympic
Games, many companies used immigrant labor to meet their deadlines. Many of the
new buildings and parks in Atlanta, as well as the many new subdivisions and
houses in the suburbs, were built with the help of immigrants. Today, many of
Georgia’s mid-sized cities, as well as rural areas have large immigrant
populations from all over the world. However, there is much debate amongst
Georgia’s law makers and citizens about the influx of immigrants. Primarily,
they are concerned with illegal immigration and the cost that they have on schools,
health care, and public transportation. Many see illegal immigrants as costing
the state more than they benefit, though the carpet, poultry, and agricultural
industry are lobbying against strict immigration laws.