TAZEWELL, VA (LOOTPRESS) — A grant received by the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority has been given to the Town of Tazewell to help with tourism.
The $100,000 grant will be used to develop a short-stay lodging facility in downtown Tazewell. Sunnyside Manor is an older apartment complex that will be renovated and turned into lodging.
After the complex is renovated into a 12 unit lodging property with 34 beds, it will be leased to Dragon Property Holdings which is an affiliate of Back of the Dragon Properties.
This project will also be funded by private investments and other entities according to Dragon Property Holding’s plan.
This complex is not far from the tourist attraction the Back of the Dragon Welcome Center. The welcome center was also funded by a loan that VCEDA helped finance.
Tourists can also visit the Hatfield-McCoy Trails and drive on the sports car and motorcycle route of Back of the Dragon.
“It’s really exciting, we need to diversify the economy in that area and tourism is definitely one way we can do that,” said Jonathan Belcher.
Belcher is the Executive Director of VCEDA and says this project will help generate ten construction jobs and seven full-time jobs.