Businesses, farms get help from abroad

meant to supplement, not replace, the local workforce

As summer approaches in Glen Arbor, local businesses are once again preparing for an influx of seasonal visitors and the international workers who help serve them.

From grocery stores to restaurants, employers across the area rely on workers traveling on J-1 student visas and H-2B seasonal work visas to fill critical roles during the busier months of the year. While the programs offer cultural exchange opportunities, they also help businesses navigate ongoing labor shortages in a rural region with a limited workforce and tight housing market.