[Goldwingnut]

Originally Posted by Boomer

Where is the labor pool to support the restaurants, stores, and services that must grow along with the number of houses?

There is not a large population in the area surrounding TV. How far are workers willing to travel for jobs here?

I realize the developer’s charter school is an attraction for some workers. I have heard that the acceptance for enrollment there is based on a tier program, depending on the level of ownership of TV in the business that employs the parent. However they do it, the charter school seems to be a draw.

And, of course, there are retirees who work throughout TV.

But how difficult is it for managers and business owners to find enough dependable employees?

Are there really enough people to employ in restaurants, landscaping, lawn care, etc. to dependably keep up with the momentum of the growth effect on “The Lifestyle”?

(I know there are those who will take my post as being cantankerous, but that is not my intention. Building houses has to be the relatively easy part. My guess is there are lots of sub-contractors and suppliers who bid competitively for a piece of the action. I just tend to wonder about the effect of the growth on all things TV.)

Obviously and eventually there will be the need for an increase in services to support the growth here in TV. What’s been announced recently is a part of a long term plan (20+ year) as confirmed by recent news articles. This is great news for the home building industry, both inside and outside TV, as it brings confidence to a long term and stable work force. With this work force comes the need for other additional services promoting overall long term growth for the surrounding area. A market driven economy such as this area has will self regulate. If there is a workforce shortage wages will increase drawing attention to the area as an attractive place for employment, righting the situation.

This shortage thinking is the same mindset as the “all these new houses and no new golf courses”. Only looking at one side of the equation and not the big picture and long term growth and planning. The surrounding cities and counties have and will benefit from the continued growth.

Growth here in The Villages is a very small percentage of the overall growth in Florida. A thousand people a day move to Florida. Few communities in the state are as well planned and environmentally friendly as what is being built here. This growth is inevitable, at least here it’s well planned and we’ll all benefit from it. I’ve been in Florida no for over 11 years and have seen lots of poor planning in Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando, and south Florida during my time working, what is happening here shows much better planning by developers and civil officials.