ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. -- On Wednesday afternoon, Beverly Waldman played with her child and step-children in her yard.
She lives and works in St. Johns County, but that's not the case for most of the people in her neighborhood, which sits on County Road 210.
"Most of them do work in Duval County," Waldman said.
According to county numbers, 40 percent of the workforce in St. Johns County drives to Jacksonville to earn a paycheck.
Melissa Glasgow is the Economic Development Director for St. Johns County.
"We're looking to add more jobs," she said.
Glasgow and St. Johns County Commissioners landed a deal with D.R. Horton on Tuesday. The company builds homes across the country, and it now plans to move its regional corporate headquarters from Jacksonville to a lot on Race Track Road just inside St. Johns County next to Durbin Creek Elementary.
"With D.R. Horton, we're looking at another 200 jobs over the next three to five years," Glasgow explained.
D.R. Horton received $140,000 in incentives from the county.
"We'll reap much more than we pay out in incentives in terms of new tax base and job creation," Glasgow noted.
This is the third deal the commissioners have made with businesses this year that want to move into St. Johns County. Glasgow said this deal with D.R. Horton brings the largest amount of jobs so far.
"Collectively they'll add up to hundreds of jobs," she smiled.
The jobs coming into the county seem to pay well. At the future D.R. Horton facility in St. Johns County, the average salary will be about $70,000.
While St. Johns County has its list of benefits regarding job creation, Waldman has her own list.
"More time being at home, being able to do the homework, cook, not having to rush," she said as children rolled by on roller blades and bicycles.
For Waldman and her neighbors, jobs closer to home mean more time with family.
First Coast News