NEW CARLISLE, Ohio -- They came seeking a better life.

Increased numbers of immigrants have made the Miami Valley their home, despite a language barrier and other challenges.

Sitting around a kitchen table in a modest home, three immigrant women shared their experiences.

Among them was Adela, a shy mother of four, who left her children back in her native Mexico with their grandmother.

"I don't like the climate but I need to do this because I need to work," Adela said.

Speaking through an interpreter, Adela said the language barrier is the toughest part of seeking employment.

"It is very difficult to me to be told there are employment opportunities but after filling out the application to be told you cannot be hired because you cannot speak English," Adela said.

Another woman, Claudia, said she came to Clark County 15 years ago.

When asked if the community or the government should be more accommodating to help immigrants, she paused before answering.

"I don't think it is your obligation to help me but of course it would be a very nice thing to help me in order for me to move forward," Claudia said.

Some bank machines in the Miami Valley have begun to offer services in Spanish and a few businesses have put up bilingual signs.

Some government Web sites, including the Ohio Civil Rights Commission offer Spanish language pages.

But not everyone agrees with it.

Bill Howard, of New Carlisle, and his daughter, Jennifer, said seeing Spanish language signs here bothers them.

"If they want to know what something means, then they ought to open a book and figure it out," Jennifer Howard said.

The most recent U.S Census puts the Hispanic population in Clark County at 2.3 percent.

A study from the Pew Research Center predicted the Hispanic population nationwide would more than double by 2050, from 14 percent to 29 percent of the U.S. population.

Blanche Casey, of Beavercreek, was appointed to the Ohio Hispanic/Latino Affairs Commission by former Gov. Bob Taft.

She said the next census will show a dramatic increase here and around the nation.

"What we are looking at is that the single largest minority group will be the Hispanic/Latino community and that has been projected now for at least four years and maybe longer than that," Casey said.

Despite the growth of the immigrant population locally, Spanish speaking people have few formal sources of support.

One of the best known and most successful resources for immigrants is Casa Amiga, located at the YMCA in New Carlisle.

Casa Amiga offers language classes, information and referrals, and diversity training.

The group has worked recently with the Springfield Police Department and the Clark County Sheriff to educate the Spanish speaking population in Clark County about public safety.

Maria Messer, Casa Amiga founder and director, said not long ago the Hispanic/Latino community was "invisible" to most people.

"Today, almost six years later, we are a lot more visible. We are beginning to feel that we are welcome. There is a sense of belonging here because of the efforts of Clark County," Messer said.

One area of government that has begun to accommodate the Spanish-speaking public is the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

Spokeswoman Lindsay Komlanc said the license agency has begun searching for more bilingual employees to help customers.

More publications are also being produced in Spanish and other languages.

But the move to accommodate people who speak only Spanish can be controversial.

Some state lawmakers do not favor bilingual operations.

One recently introduced bill bans the use of Spanish in testing for a commercial driver's license.

To date, the bill has languished at the Ohio Statehouse.

Still, local activists like Rosa Caskey, State Director of the League of Latin American Citizens, have been pushing for more accommodation of immigrants.

"I think the government should be doing more," Caskey said.

She said efforts to ban bilingual publications in government are short sighted.

"I'm still hopeful that they will be able to see they can't continue to go backwards. We have to move this country forwards. We have a future. Our future is at stake," Caskey said.

Claudia and other local immigrants said they depend on friends and a few other sources, including Spanish-language Web sites, for the latest news.

July Obando of Columbus said another source will soon be available. Obando is co-anchor of WCPX-TV in Columbus.

The Columbus-based station took the air in late January and offers news, weather and entertainment programming.

"The Spanish community is growing tremendously and that's why we're here now," Obando said.

Obando said the station will be available to customers of Time Warner Cable in the Miami Valley this Spring.

jim.otte@whiotv.com