Watauga County, North Carolina

schools and local community college. Davis has a goal for the county to create partnerships that will help train future students for trades like plumbing, electrical, carpentry and construction. He says, “Helping these people get jobs with high skills – that would be the thing I’d like to see in the next three to five years.” While Watauga County is currently lacking available and affordable housing, projects are in the works to help curb that issue. As a rural county there is lots of opportunity for development, they just need developers to come in and build homes. “There’s not much room for infill in Boone, but the rest of the county is rural,” says Furman. “There are plenty of lots for sale and there is some development currently going on. It seems there’s a market for townhouses in rural areas now. They’re a little bit less expensive, or can be, than a new house, and there’s no yard maintenance that the owners are responsible for.” Housing will remain a top priority for Watauga County looking into the future, as they move to accommodate all those who have discovered their little slice of paradise. WATAUGA COUNTY , NORTH CAROL INA