Floyd Homefront, Part 3: Nurturing the Workforce
Floyd Homefront Part 3, “Nurturing the Workforce,” is about key aspects of Floyd County's locally driven economy and the value of investing in the infrastructure employers need.
“Floyd Homefront” is a Floyd Times series that examines the ways in which the Floyd government is working to address the local housing crisis. Part 3, “Nurturing the Workforce,” is about key aspects of Floyd County's locally driven economy and the value of investing in the infrastructure employers need.
Community members being able to live in and afford safe housing is essential for not only a happy, sustainable community, but also for local economic stability, population retention, and overall community well-being.
Rural economies depend heavily on essential workers such as teachers, government workers, healthcare professionals, first responders, manufacturing, and service industry employees. Floyd County’s largest employers include local government offices, Floyd County Public Schools, Wall Residences, and Hollingsworth and Vose.
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The Census Bureau’s self-reported data states there were 339 “total employer establishments” in Floyd County in 2023 and there were 2,960 employees. Of those employees, about 63% of residents (16 years old or older) are a part of the civilian labor force. Census data also states that as of 2023, 70.5% of the active labor force commutes out-of-county for their primary jobs, and the average commute to work took about 31 minutes. This dynamic creates a leakage in the local labor force, where Floyd’s talent and productivity primarily benefit neighboring counties.
“This weakens the local labor force and makes it harder for employers, like the local public schools and the County Government to recruit and retain staff,” said Lydeana Martin, Floyd County Community and Economic Development Director. To build the local workforce, the community needs growth in two key areas: housing (preferably in walkable areas) and jobs.
Your Best Move
Craig Chancellor
126 North Locust St.
Floyd, VA, 24091
(540) 523-1300
Each Office Independently Owned and Operated.
Floyd County is currently working on initial plans for a Workforce Housing Development. Martin said the team is “seeking authorization from the Board of Supervisors to apply for grant dollars in the spring,” which would help make the project more affordable and fund site preparation (no construction funding is included). If all grant funds are awarded, a private developer, who would partner with the County, can build the houses (according to the 2025 Land Division Ordinance) on the already-prepared land without having to complete some costly projects, an incentive for developers that also helps to lower the final cost for homebuyers.
Martin said that this is not “low-income housing” but specifically for "moderate- to middle-income residents… We would have a “Preference Priority point system” that gives priority to people who work or live in Floyd, but it is not fully defined yet.” She added that the units would be owner-occupied and not rented.
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A survey from the County is collecting contact information of interested parties and helping to determine the real demand in Floyd for 10 to 20 new homes. “We already have 40 responses, but we have not determined if all of those people will qualify,” Martin said. She explained that after developers express interest through a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) process, “a builder will be selected based on qualifications, including experience with similar work.”
This project, if it comes to fruition, Martin said, “will not meet all of the community housing needs. “That is part of the reason for the changes to the Land Division Ordinance — to make it easier to create small land developments, so the cost of lots does not keep going up so very much.” She said the County is always keeping an eye out for possible community partnerships.
In regard to Floyd County-based jobs, the most prominent industries are Agriculture, Advanced and Specialty Manufacturing, Information Technology, Construction, and Healthcare. An ongoing effort, the County has worked diligently for years to attract new employers to the area, help existing businesses grow, and help train the next generation of Floyd County employees, who will hopefully have more diverse job opportunities.
The development of the Floyd Regional Commerce Center, which started more than 20 years ago, has proved to be a positive investment for the County in terms of job options.
“The whole idea for the Commerce Center is to create a path for businesses to locate and/or grow, especially with good paying jobs,” Martin said. “The fewer people who have to commute out of the County to work, the more they will spend at local businesses, so it helps everyone. And, it's born good fruit.” She added that the wages and salaries paid by the six companies at the Commerce Center “are among the highest-paying sectors in the County.”
Mark J. Harris
Floyd County Farm Bureau
(540) 745-2021
335 E. Oxford St.
Floyd VA 24091
The Career and Collaboration Development Center (CCDC) at Floyd County High School is another example of County officials looking to the future, particularly in providing local jobs that revolve around skilled trades.
“Businesses want to know that there's a ready and skilled workforce when they contemplate locating or expanding in a community,” Martin said. She said both the Commerce Center and the CCDC, along with a skilled workforce and water access, “are necessary for a thriving local economy, which is also important to County tax revenue.”
Another key factor in improving our workforce and securing a stable future for Floyd County is access to water. Without a reliable source of water, there are no new jobs to increase the number of people who live and work in Floyd County, and there is no new housing.
Learn more about discussions surrounding the Floyd-Floyd County PSA, which serves all of the Town of Floyd, the schools, the Commerce Center, and more, through Floyd Times’ “Beyond the Tap” series.
"Floyd Homefront" is a Floyd Times series that examines the local housing crisis. Part 4, "Town Efforts," will discuss steps that the Town of Floyd is taking to address housing needs within the county center.