Affordable Housing, Middle Income Housing, Communty Housing, Workforce Housing…housing of all sorts is front and center for our community as we emerge from the shadow of COVID. Employers are strugglng to staff main street locations, our hospital keeps getting job offer turn-downs and our schools struggling to replace the crop of retiring teachers. Lack of access to housing, both for purchase and long-term rental, constrains the supply of workforce talent available. This creates cahllenges for local business owners to deliver good and services to our area’s high standards.

But all the news is not bad. After decades of inattention, the housing crisis in Blaine Co is finally receiving more serious attention from a wider variety of players. This month’s newsletter includes several headline articles that focus on some positive housing stories.

To further the dialogue on housing and our economy, SVED will be hosting a virtual Community Forum on November 16th and 17th in conjunction with Visit Sun Valley. This on-line event will review how our community’s economy has fared since the start of COVID and explore how resilient businesses, governement and individuals can help us survive and thrive over the next 18 months. In advance of this event, SVED has curated the 2021 Economic Almanac in partnership with the Idaho Mt. Express to set the stage for participants with a wide variety of facts and figures.

No charge for admission this year so we hope you can join us for one or both sessions.