West Marion Resilience Hub
Built By Us.
The West Marion Resilience Hub is being built by us—rooted in our history, shaped by our community, and made possible through shared investment to create a stronger future for McDowell County. An innovative adaptive reuse and expansion project in Marion, North Carolina, the Hub will be anchored in the historic Hudgins High / Mountain View School revitalizing the 20,000-square-foot structure into a transformative, 66,000-square-foot mixed-use community center.
Why now? The school’s land and building were donated to West Marion Inc. in 2024. WMI commissioned a feasibility study for the project and developed a three-phase approach to create the Hub. This state-of-the-art, mixed-use center will provide McDowell County residents with increased access to healthcare, childcare, recreation, healthy food workforce development resources, and safe shelter during climate-related disasters and states of emergency.
Rooted in the history and strength of the Marion community, the Hub will preserve an important African American landmark while creating a shared space designed to meet the needs and aspirations of generations to come. The Hub is designed to address systemic challenges and serve as a designated emergency refuge, enhancing the resilience of the region against climate shocks and social inequities. The project represents a pivotal opportunity to right historical injustices, enrich cultural heritage, and build socio-economic stability for future generations.
Generations before us built this foundation. Together, we will build what comes next.
The Vision
For generations, Hudgins High/Mountain View School served as more than a school. It was a place where people learned, gathered, celebrated, and supported one another.
Today, many families in McDowell County face barriers to accessing essential resources, including healthcare, childcare, workforce development opportunities, and community spaces. The West Marion community has endured a long history of racial segregation, discriminatory housing practices, and inequitable urban renewal policies. Yet throughout these challenges, residents have built strong networks of collaboration and mutual aid that have helped the community survive racial oppression, pandemics, and climate-related disasters such as Hurricane Helene in 2024. The West Marion Resilience Hub builds on a legacy of resilience, creating a place where connection, opportunity, and collective care can continue to grow.
Phase 1 will include renovation of an existing 20,000-square-foot structure and the addition of 9,000 square feet of new construction, with Phase 2 adding an additional 21,000 square feet.
The West Marion Resilience Hub will be a shared community space where people of all ages can connect, learn, access essential services, and build a stronger future together. The Hub will serve as a model for climate-resilient building, incorporating both active and passive green solutions. It will also provide a trusted community resource during times of crisis, offering access to shelter, water, food, trauma-informed medical services, and mutual aid to help residents withstand climate disasters and recover more quickly.
The Hub will help expand access to:
Healthcare and wellness resources
Childcare and family support
Workforce development opportunities
Healthy food initiatives
Recreation and cultural programming
Safe gathering spaces during emergencies
We are currently in the capital campaign stage of the project. Construction will begin following the completion of fundraising and predevelopment activities, with the project completed in phases as funding is secured. The total project cost for Phase 1 is estimated at $30 million and will be supported through a mix of grants, low-interest loans, and tax credits. Groundbreaking is anticipated in 2027.
nSCALE Design & Development, a minority-owned business firm drafted the Feasibility Study for Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3 of this project. This is a document that details: The Business Plan, Due Diligence, Program of Requirements, Design, Sustainability Strategy, Financial Analysis, Regional Market Research, and Comparative Market Analysis. A copy of this study is available upon request.
West Marion Resilience Hub Renderings
Built by Our Community
The West Marion Resilience Hub is a project of West Marion Inc., the first Black-led nonprofit organization serving McDowell County. For years, West Marion Inc. has worked alongside residents to strengthen neighborhoods, expand opportunity, and preserve the community’s history.
This project is possible because of the people who continue to invest their time, ideas, resources, and support, including:
McDowell County residents
Mountain View School alumni and families
Community partners
Local businesses
Foundations and institutional funders
Individual donors
We are especially grateful to the institutional partners who have already invested in this vision, including the City of Marion, McDowell Technical Community College, McDowell EMS, McDowell Access to Care and Health, Pardee Hospital, Foothills Food Hub, Appalachian Voices, Christine Avery Learning Center, and NC Cooperative Extension – McDowell County Center. Thank you to investors to date: Invest Appalachia, Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Glass Foundation, Opportunity Appalachia, Mountain BizWorks, Industrial Commons, US BanCorp, NC Representative Dudley Greene, District 85, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC Foundation.
With a multi-million dollar fundraising goal, this project represents a shared investment in the future of West Marion and McDowell County. Every donation, big or small, brings us closer to making this vision a reality. We invite you to join us in building a stronger, more resilient future for generations to come. The West Marion Resilience Hub is designed to strengthen the health, resilience, and economic future of McDowell County.
The Hub will help expand access to:
Healthcare and wellness resources
Childcare and family support
Workforce development opportunities
Healthy food initiatives
Recreation and cultural programming
Safe gathering spaces during emergencies
How You Can Help
The West Marion Resilience Hub is being built through community support. Whether you donate, share your story, or help spread the word, every contribution moves this project forward.
Ways to get involved:
Make a one-time or monthly gift
Become a founding donor
Share your Mountain View memories
Invite others to support the project
Attend upcoming community events and the groundbreaking ceremony
Calling All Mountain View Alumni
You helped shape this place. Now help shape its future.
We invite former students, teachers, staff, families, and friends of Mountain View School to reconnect with this historic site and help preserve its legacy.
Share your memories, stay informed about alumni events, and join us as we write the next chapter together.