Students scrambling to fill out their FAFSA forms can turn to Congressman Tom Latham’s newly opened Ames district office for help.

Rep. Latham, R-Iowa, opened the office at 213 N. Duff Ave., Suite 1, at a ceremony held Wednesday morning.

He said his office has three staff members to serve constituents. Michele Wing is the regional representative, Clarke Scanlon is the district director and Sam Genson is the staff assistant.

“We are so fortunate to have the quality of [staff] we have,” Latham said.

The staff in the district office can help constituents with grant services, Social Security, Veteran Services and other government agency programs, like FAFSA.

James Carstensen, Latham’s press secretary, said the office has really been open longer, as Ames became part of Latham’s district on Jan. 3 when Congress resumed.

“We do primarily the legislative work in Washington and then the district office does a good portion of constituent services,” Carstensen said.

Latham said the office is convenient for him because he comes home every weekend.

Carstensen said Ames is the main office and there are district offices in Fort Dodge and Mason City/Clear Lake. He said the offices and staff in the district office are available to help constituents with a variety of questions and concerns.

Latham said the office will provide a wonderful opportunity to serve citizens more effectively.

“It’s great to be in Ames with an office here, this is such a great community,” he said. “I am so excited about having a place in this community and honored to represent this area.”

The staff can be reached at 232-2885 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.