(Arnolds Park)– Proposed cuts on the federal level that would impact the BridgeUSA J-1 Exchange Visitor Program has some local officials concerned. Jon Pausley, CEO of the Arnolds Park Amusement Park, says they rely heavily on that program each year for workers…
“A lot of different, uh, areas where people want to save and cut back. And we certainly understand that. We just hope that they consider this to not be one of them. Uh, like I said, it’s not just not just us locally, though, it affects us locally here. This is across the board for many amusement parks and attractions that this program did not exist or in the form that it does now, or it became more expensive to be able to bring these students in. There would be a it’d be difficult. Prices would would probably reflect that increase, and we’d have to make some tough decisions about staffing. And and as much as we love hiring everyone locally here, we’re just afraid that that would not be a viable option to be able to go forward. So our congressional delegates are certainly listening. They’re hearing us, and we just hope that that continues to move into action as well.”
Pausley says this summer alone, 115 J-1 students are working at Arnolds Park…
“Our community has really rallied and has given these kids great experiences. There are hundreds of volunteers throughout the summer that have meals, take kids out on boats, give them a night where they can go and enjoy a bonfire or just a meal in somebody’s home. There’s church groups and volunteers at every Sunday night. Come and prepare a meal in our dormitory, serve the students and give them some social opportunities outside of work. It’s not just workforce. The kids bring a beautiful diversity and culture to our area all summer long, and the threat of not being able to continue to do that is something we’re concerned about, and we want people to to just be aware that this this is something that is on the chopping block, if you will.”
In 2023 Historic Arnolds Park, Incorporated opened an on-site dormitory to house the J-1 student-workers.
Pausley encourages those with concerns over the potential cut to get more information at arnoldspark.com/saveBridgeUSA.
