On September 26, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded $11 million to Givens Communities for its Clinchfield Mill project in Marion.

The Section 202 funding will go toward converting the historic structure into 141 affordable apartments for older adults. This project will not only preserve and repurpose a historic landmark, but it will also help meet a critical and growing need for safe and affordable senior housing in Western North Carolina.

“This HUD funding is the cornerstone that will allow us to move forward in assembling the additional non-competitive funds needed to finance the project and local support for this project has been essential to getting this funding from HUD,” said Teresa Stephens, vice president of Givens Affordable Communities.

For 50 years Givens has proudly served older adults with dignity, compassion, and innovation in Western North Carolina and has explored opportunities to serve in McDowell County. Givens purchased the Clinchfield Mill with a $3 million grant from Dogwood Health Trust in December 2022. In April 2024 the Mill was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which qualifies it for other state and federal funding.

Originally constructed in 1917 as a textile mill, its most recent use has been as a storage facility, distribution center and equipment depot for Hurricane Helene recovery volunteer group Resilient Recovery North Carolina.