Hispanic Task Force of Lee County

The Hispanic Task Force of Lee County, Inc., a non-profit established in the early 1990s, was among the state's first organizations of its kind to help Hispanics integrate into mainstream society. In the early 1980s, as local industries competed more and more effectively for labor, tobacco farmers began to rely on Mexican migrant workers. The number of Mexican farm workers has risen steadily over the past two decades. With the recent decline of the tobacco industry, however, many Hispanics have moved into other sectors of the economy, such as chicken plant processing, the restaurant trade, and other professions. Taking advantage of affordable housing and the amenities downtown has to offer, many Hispanics have chosen to live in the older neighborhoods of eastern downtown. According to the 2000 census, nearly 20% of Lee County’s 6035 persons of Hispanic origin reside in this area. The central location of the Task Force in Downtown Sanford offers this burgeoning community a tremendous voice and . The office of the Hispanic Task Force is located at 711 Carthage Street and they can be reached at (919) 775-5447.