Housing:
the Challenges and Solutions of Keeping our Workforce Local

The availability of attainable workforce housing is a significant challenge for employers to retain and attract the employees necessary to sustain economic growth in St. Johns County. Join us on September 22, 2023, as we hear the results of extensive research from Dr. Jerry Parish and consultant Mark Nighbor to better understand the scope and scale of the County’s workforce housing issues and options to consider for policy direction to help address this growing issue. The presenters will also explore the economic impact and benefits of providing attainable housing in St. Johns County.



Dr. Jerry Parrish is an economist doing work for universities, companies, and great organizations involved in economic development and workforce development. He is also on the faculty at Florida State University - teaching in the Masters of Applied Economics program for the past ten. Dr. Parrish is the former Chief Economist and Director of Research at the Florida Chamber Foundation.






Mark Nighbor is a senior executive with a long and successful career in driving sales to help service organizations grow profitably. With cross-functional expertise in the digital customer experience, eCommerce, sales and marketing automation, business development, sales leadership, strategy, marketing communications, and environmental compliance, he focuses on expanding market reach, organizations that typically hire him.