NRGRDA to host regional housing needs assessment meeting

BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The New River Gorge Regional Development Authority has announced that it will host a kickoff meeting at which a regional housing needs assessment will be set into motion by way of professional and community collaboration.

The meeting, scheduled to take place from 6:00pm to 8:00pm on Monday, September 9, 2024, will be held in Room C of the Raleigh County Convention Center.

“We are invited all stakeholders to attend this important session to create a housing needs assessment for the New River Gorge Region,” said New River Gorge Regional Development Authority Executive Director, Jina Belcher. “This is a prime opportunity for community leaders and citizens to share their insights and ideas about the future of housing in Fayette, Nicholas, Raleigh, and Summers counties.”

National Council of Housing Market Analysts (also known as NCHMA) accredited firm, Bowen National Research has been contacted to conduct the study. The process of determining the housing needs process will combine the expert guidance of Bowen National Research with valuable local input.

The NRGRDA will review the scope of work with community partners and Bowen will collect housing data which will be analyzed for the four-county region. This will include the evaluation of locally sourced employment data, local census data, stakeholder surveys to better understand the NRG housing market, housing data collection, housing demand gap analysis, and recommendations and conclusions.

The NRGRDA has also named seasonal workforce analysis, residential development opportunities, housing program identification, and barriers to development as optional elements which could prove be critical with regard to ongoing support for economic development throughout the overall region.

Those interested in participating in the housing needs assessment kickoff meeting are welcome to register at the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority website , where additional information regarding the meeting itself as well as the overall mission and work of the NRGRDA can be found.