Events

Workforce Housing as an Economic Development Tool

Thursday, September 10, 2026

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (EDT)

Event Details

Overview:
This session explores how population shifts and rising housing costs are impacting workforce stability and economic growth, and what communities can do to respond.

Key Topics:

State-to-state migration and urban-to-exurban relocation trends
Rental and homeownership housing market trends
Impacts of rising housing costs on local economies
Cost burden challenges for middle-income households
Role of workforce housing in business recruitment and site selection

What You Will Learn:

Best practices for new housing development
Strategies for neighborhood revitalization and infill construction
Overview of “missing middle” housing types
How to identify priority locations for new housing
Steps to create a local housing task force
How to begin developing a workforce housing strategy

About the Presenter:

Alan Durham is a Senior Economic Developer with the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Center for Economic Development Research (CEDR), bringing more than 30 years of experience in economic development, real estate strategy, and public policy. He has served in executive roles with city and county governments, where he negotiated incentives with Fortune 500 companies and led major redevelopment initiatives. His expertise spans fiscal impact analysis, tax increment financing, and public-private partnerships with a focus on downtown development, workforce housing, neighborhood revitalization, and market analysis. He has authored tax incentive policies, redevelopment plans, and economic development strategies, and he is widely recognized for his work advancing economic development, community development, and real estate redevelopment efforts.