The Town of Tryon was recently awarded a $15,000 N.C. Rural Economic Development Center grant to study the reuse of its former depot building.

The town applied for the grant this summer on behalf of Main Street Financials Andy Millard, who is currently renovating the buildng.

The town approved a lease with Millard earlier this year for Millard to spend approximately $250,000 to restore the former depot, located on Depot Street downtown. In exchange, Millard will lease the building for $1 per year for 20 years. He plans to move his office and provide other office space there.

Plans for the restoration were done by Brady/Trakas Architects and the contractor for the project is Mike Karaman. Renovations began this summer and are expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Tryons grant award was part of the rural centers recent $5 million allocation for job creation and clean water needs. The town was awarded the grant because one job was created through the project.

The grants throughout the state will assist communities in 46 rural counties and create a total of 375 jobs. The grants were approved on Aug. 25 and were made possible by appropriations of the N.C. General Assembly.

The towns depot was originally constructed around 1906. Millard is planning for the building to consist of three offices and a reception area and he plans to keep the freight room as an assembly room that will include a catering kitchen. Plans are also for the freight room to serve as a depot museum.