Results from Chamber of Commerce business housing survey

JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — The Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce released preliminary results from its follow up business housing survey—dubbed Business Housing Roundtable Survey 2.0—that expounded on the original poll from May 2021.

With input from the Teton County Housing Department, the May survey canvassed some 250 participating Chamber members. Of those, about 100 local business owners agreed to become further involved by creating the Business Housing Roundtable.

The results were not surprising given the current business climate. Businesses can’t find employees, in part, because employees cannot find housing.

Comments from some local business owners were revealing, if not profoundly discouraging.

“We’ve really reached a breaking point here in this county regarding affordable housing, as well as other crucial social services such as AFFORDABLE daycare, child summer care and adequate hours for these services here in Teton County. Something major needs to happen and soon,” read one anonymous comment.

Another stated, “We do as much as we can for our employees. We encourage them to look at the affordable housing programs but they generally make too much to qualify, or the down payment is too high for their circumstance. They are all professionals with advanced degrees in many cases and can make the monthly payment but not the down payment.”

“Seeing projects like Sagebrush go up and having my employees, who make good salaries, tell me they cannot fathom paying $1,750 for a dorm room is distressing,” read still another. “Hearing about realtors who make $2 million in commissions—and post t on Facebook—and are currently living in workforce housing is atrocious. It doesn’t seem feasible to try to fix the problem if we aren’t managing what current workforce housing we do have to ensure that it’s going to people who are currently employed in Teton County and who meet the income guidelines.”

Survey 2.0 is the result of that roundtable. It was colored with additional input from local and state elected officials who presented potential public investment funding mechanisms. In this survey, the 77 respondents reflect the valley—small, medium, and large businesses—spanning all industries including resorts, lodging/vacation rentals, nonprofits, retail and restaurants, professional services, construction, financial services, health and wellness, and the arts.

Chamber president and CEO Anna Olson was quick to admit it is not her organization’s intent to voice an authority opinion on housing. The Chamber simply wishes to facilitate a conversation that has influenced, if not dominated the business environment this year.

“The Chamber is not a housing expert nor do we intend to be,” Olson said. “We are committed to providing a forum for conversation, informing elected officials and relevant parties of our membership’s situation and views, and advocating for solutions.”

Many business owners admitted it was on them to pay higher wages and/or provide housing for their employees if they wanted to survive. Some mentioned Legacy Lodge as an exciting workforce housing possibility that should be explored.

“The future of any business appears to be dependent upon the ability to provide high wages and/or housing for their employees. Our options seem to be limited…[and] these options are strongly pushing us out of the community in which our children attend school, and away from the four businesses my wife and I operate within Jackson,” commented one local business owner.