Des Moines, Iowa (May 2, 2006)—Only 11 days left until you can "experience Asia in Iowa"! The Iowa Asian Alliance (IAA) will be hosting its first Asian Heritage Festival Job Fair at the 2006 Asian Heritage Festival to be held at the Water Works Park in Des Moines, Iowa on Saturday, May 13, 2006.

The Asian Heritage Festival Job Fair is sponsored by Nationwide. "Our associates' diverse backgrounds and unique perspectives are what make Nationwide a great place to work," said Susan McGinness, Vice President of Human Resources at Nationwide Insurance. "Recruiting diverse candidates can be challenging - that's why opportunities such as the job fair at the Asian Heritage Festival are so important. Events like this give organizations the chance to reach out and attract a broader variety of talent."

In addition to Nationwide, ten other companies will be recruiting from the Asian Heritage Job Fair including: Principal Financial Group, Polk County Board of Supervisors, John Deere, Citigroup, American Family Insurance, Toyota of Des Moines, ABC Virtual Communications, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Federal Home Loan Bank, and West Bank.

30,000 people are expected to attend Asian Heritage Festival, which is three times the number of people who attended the first festival. With Polk County boasting the highest concentration of Asian Americans in the state, the Asian Heritage Festival Job Fair is an outstanding opportunity for Iowa employers to pursue diverse talents. Participating companies include West Bank, Westaff, and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines.

The festival is the one day in Iowa where companies can go to reach all the Asian communities at one time in one place. Asian Americans represent one of the fastest growing population segments in Iowa, and play a vital role in the state's economic development. According to the 2000 census, 13,614 Asian Americans live in the greater Des Moines area, comprising 3.5 percent of the area's population. Approximately 45,000 Asian Americans reside in Iowa, making up about 1.5 percent of the total population.

The Asian Heritage Festival is free to the public and draws people from all over Iowa and surrounding states. The festival showcases the many different Asian communities that reside in Iowa.

In addition to the Asian Heritage Festival Job Fair, new events include the Asian Wedding Fashion Show, the Health and Wellness Village, Samahang Kapatid (Filipino-American Youth Dancers), Hale O Malo (Polynesian Dancers), and the "Asian Inspiration" Art Contest. For more information about the Asian Heritage Festival, please visit http://www.celebrasian.org .

ABOUT THE IOWA ASIAN ALLIANCE
The Iowa Asian Alliance is a professional, non-profit organization dedicated to growing Iowa through a united Asian American community. IAA represents 18 Asian American community associations. Originally founded in 2002, the Iowa Asian Alliance promotes the business, economic and community development of Iowa's Asian American community. The group represents the 15 Asian communities within the state, and also works to increase community awareness of their cultural and economic contributions.

Press Contact:
Kim Poam Logan
Executive Director
Iowa Asian Alliance
(515) 309-6047
info@celebrasian.org