Last month NCGrowth partnered with the Construction Professional Network Institute, Wesley Community Development, and the Salem United Methodist Church in Bostic, NC to examine the possibility of creating a “Rural Village Center” on Salem’s property.
Many churches in North Carolina have owned large parcels of land for decades or centuries. As many in rural areas face challenges finding affordable housing and accessing services, repurposing church land could be a transformational economic development and social service delivery strategy in these areas. As such, Wesley CDC’s mission is to help faith-based communities repurpose their assets through real estate development in ways that serve their community’s needs.