YANKTON, S.D. (WNAX) – Communities and businesses need to think about immigrants and refugees as potential workforce additions.

Tim Jurgens with Lutheran Social Services in Sioux Falls says immigrants have made a difference in several places already.

Jurgens spoke at the quarterly meeting of Yankton Area Progressive Growth.

He says businesses are rewarded if they take a chance on adding immigrants.

Jurgens says new arrivals to the state have dropped from 535 in 2013, to 209 last year.

Jurgens says attitudes can change.

Jurgens says they help refugees and immigrants get on a path to citizenship which can take years.