Plans for old Prices Fork Elementary School in final stages

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PRICES FORK (WSLS 10) - Partners throughout the New River Valley are working to breathe life back into an old landmark.

The old Prices Fork Elementary School used to be a community hub, but it has sat vacant for several years.

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Now, more than 20 organizations and localities have come together to create the Prices Fork Food Initiative.

This will convert the school into 32 housing units. These will be a mix of affordable housing and market rate housing. Some will be seniors only, and others will not have an age restriction.

There will also be a farm-to-table restaurant, a commercial kitchen to help local farmers launch small businesses and a craft brewery.

However, all of this relies on a $2.5 million grant from the state. The other partners have pledged another $2.5 million. Final word on the grant is expected in three weeks. If the money is denied, the team will come together to form a new plan.

Project manager Elisabeth Willis said, "One of the goals is to create a revitalized Prices Fork. That old school has been central to that community for decades."

The initiative is expected to create 73 new jobs over a five year period. If the grant is approved, everything is scheduled to be open in the next three years.