WELCH, W.Va. — A big step was announced Monday in the effort to create housing for teachers and other professionals who want to work in McDowell County
In an effort to recruit and retain teachers as well as encourage economic development in the county, the Reconnecting McDowell partnership purchased a long-abandoned property Monday in downtown Welch that will become apartment-style housing for teachers and other professionals.
Reconnecting McDowell purchased the former Best Furniture and Katzen buildings and attached parking lots for $92,000, according to a statement from the Reconnecting McDowell organization.
“This is an enormous step forward in Reconnecting McDowell’s goal to attract great teachers to McDowell, to encourage them to stay, and become integral members of the community, and to reinvigorate the economy in McDowell County,” Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, the convening partner of Reconnecting McDowell, said.
The partnership’s board of directors will decide at its next meeting whether to demolish the Best Furniture and Katzen buildings for new construction or to totally renovate the existing buildings…