Thread: Tienda rides Hispanic wave in North Carolina

http://www.fayettevillenc.com/article?id=239657

Published on Monday, August 14, 2006
Tienda rides Hispanic wave


By Amneris Solano
Staff writer
La Michoacana opened four years ago on Campbell Avenue as a small tienda that sold groceries to Raeford’s burgeoning Hispanic community.

Soon, the tienda — a shop or general store — began to expand as the Hispanic population grew, too. Today, the family-owned store has exploded into a multifaceted business that operates a coin-operated laundry, a party supply shop and a pool hall. In the next few weeks, La Michoacana will add a restaurant.

“We thought it would be a good business expansion,” said Luis Cervantes, whose parents own the store. “We had the space to do it.”

La Michoacana’s prosperity is attributable to the continued growth in the number of Hispanic immigrants who are moving to North Carolina. Hundreds of similar Hispanic markets have opened in communities across the state to cater to the influx of foreign-born immigrants.

The census first revealed the state’s Hispanic population boom a few years ago when it showed a nearly 400 percent increase in the number of Latinos from 1990 to 2000. The latest estimates show North Carolina’s Hispanic population jumped to 553,113 in 2005 from 378,962 in 2000.

Hoke ranks ninth in the state and first in the Cape Fear region among counties with the highest percentage of growth. The county’s Hispanic population rose by 66.3 percent in five years, estimates show. The census counted 2,415 Hispanics in the county in 2000 and 4,016 in 2005.

At La Michoacana, the majority of the store’s customers live in Hoke and Robeson counties, Cervantes said. The business, which continues to sell foods and drinks that are common in Latin America, has become a gathering place for Latinos. When the workers get off their shifts at the House of Raeford poultry plant across town, the store fills up with Hispanic immigrants who are looking for a little taste of home.

Cervantes, who is 21, helps out in the store in the afternoons. His family immigrated to the United States from Mexico when he was 2 years old. They moved around to different states before settling in Raeford.

“It’s a fairly nice little city to live,” Cervantes said.

Like Hoke, all the Cape Fear region counties except Cumberland had spikes in their Hispanic populations, according to census estimates. Cumberland County still has one of the highest Hispanic populations in the state but the county lost 7.3 percent of its Hispanic population in five years.

Statisticians believe it could be because of the county’s military population, which fluctuates with deployments. Craven and Onslow counties, which both have military bases, also had drops in their Hispanic populations.

But among counties statewide, the Hispanic population is growing. Researchers and Hispanic advocates say the figures could be even higher because the census does not count illegal immigrants. The Pew Hispanic Center, a Washington D.C-based research group, estimates more than 300,000 undocumented immigrants live in the state.

The immigrants arrive in North Carolina by way of other states or directly from Latin America, researchers say. They come here seeking jobs, a cheaper cost of living and a better way of life.

“The growth has been continuing for the last decade, so it’s not anything new,” said Zulayka Santiago, executive director of El Pueblo, a nonprofit organization based in Raleigh.

“We recognize that the census stats are not all inclusive,” Santiago said. “The vast majority of people who are coming here are new immigrants — first generation immigrants. They come looking for jobs and economic opportunities.”

Word of mouth
Immigrants became interested in certain areas by word of mouth, she said. The immigrants move to these places after learning from friends and family members that jobs are available. As a result, some communities in the state become populated with groups of foreign-born immigrants who are all from the same city or town in their home countries.

Marlin Garcia, who lives in Sanford, is an example of that. He owns La Comercial, a general store on Main Street in Raeford. Garcia moved to Orlando, Fla., from Mexico in the 1980s and came to Sanford shortly after some of his family members had moved there.

Garcia said he has seven siblings who all live and own businesses in the area. North Carolina seemed like a good place to live, he said, because the rent was cheaper than in Chicago and other cities where he had lived.

He bought the store in Raeford in 2000. Since then, Garcia said he has not noticed too many more Hispanics moving into the county. He now is looking to sell the store, he said.

“I’m looking for another business,” Garcia said, “It’s too slow.”

Lee County, where Garcia lives, has a slightly higher Hispanic population than Hoke, but between 2000 and 2005 the population only grew by 38.2 percent. Nearby Moore County, had a similar increase with a 38.5 percent jump.

Farther south, Robeson County had the second highest jump in the Cape Fear region in its Hispanic population with a 58.3 percent increase. The county added 3,484 Hispanics, bringing its population to 9,462 in 2005 from 5,978 in 2000. The Hispanic population in Sampson County grew a little slower with a 46.7 percent hike.

Adjustments
No matter the growth rate, the soaring population poses some challenges for local governments. Immigrants increase the demand for services such as health care, education and law enforcement, county officials said.

Part of the problem, they said, is having enough translators available to help Spanish speakers. Most counties have been trying to meet the challenge by hiring bilingual employees and providing some information in English and Spanish.

Sampson County has been especially proactive in its efforts. The county takes part in the Latino Initiative, a program sponsored by the Center for International Understanding in Raleigh. The initiative aims to help local officials handle the state’s changing demographics. Last year, a delegation of law enforcement, health, government and education officials from Sampson, Duplin and Wayne counties visited Mexico to better understand why immigrants come here.

“Our team that traveled to Oaxaca and Mexico City became very attuned to what it was like to be in a foreign land and not know the language,” Sampson County Manager Scott Sauer said.

The visit has led the county to find better ways to serve the growing Hispanic population, county officials said. Sampson started a bilingual community information center that is open twice a month on certain dates in different locations. Staff members from the school system, health and other departments provide information for Spanish speakers on how they can access county services.

“We’ve just tried to extend a helping hand,” Sauer said. “The Latino community provides a strong work force in our community. ...The more we can work together and strengthen that relationship, the better off our community will be.”

Staff writer Matt Leclercq helped research this story.

Staff writer Amneris Solano can be reached at solanoa@fayettevillenc.com or 486-3521.

“We recognize that the census stats are not all inclusive,” Santiago said. “The vast majority of people who are coming here are new immigrants — first generation immigrants. They come looking for jobs and economic opportunities.”

Word of mouth
Immigrants became interested in certain areas by word of mouth, she said. The immigrants move to these places after learning from friends and family members that jobs are available. As a result, some communities in the state become populated with groups of foreign-born immigrants who are all from the same city or town in their home countries.

Amazing isn't it, the way people tend to completely ignore the fact that surge of Hispanics into North Carolina can be directly attributed to illegal immigration. "New immigrants" my butt, they're illegal immigrants!

ITs called a fluff piece, it all sound warm and fuzzy. No mention to the costs in School, Hospitals, auto accidents, and CRIME.....only good things come from latino-america.....

ITs called a fluff piece, it all sound warm and fuzzy. No mention to the costs in School, Hospitals, auto accidents, and CRIME.....only good things come from latino-america.....

Yes Sir!!!

Part of the problem, they said, is having enough translators available to help Spanish speakers. Most counties have been trying to meet the challenge by hiring bilingual employees and providing some information in English and Spanish.

How about making immigrants meet the challenge of learning ENGLISH!!! and provide the info only in English.

With all those illegals gathered in one spot (after they get out of the poultry plant), it would be easy pickins for the ICE agents. Any ALIPAC members live in Hoke county and could let ICE know where to find them?

Here is the contact info for House of Reaford Processing Plant

http://www.houseofraeford.com/corporate ... lities.htm

rhonda.murphy@houseofraeford.com

at:
1-800-8-TURKEY
FAX 910-875-8300

Raeford, North Carolina
910-875-5161 800-8-TURKEY
Fax 910-875-8300
Manager Raw Products Greg Steenblock
Manager Further Processing Kenny Scott