MURPHY, N.C. - A Murphy affordable housing community that has helped address one of Cherokee County's most pressing needs has received statewide recognition for excellence in development. Valley River Apartments was recognized as Development of the Year during an awards ceremony held this week in Raleigh, where Murphy Mayor Tim Radford and Property Manager Susie Graham joined the Western North Carolina Housing Partnership to accept the honor on behalf of the community.
The award recognizes the success of Valley River Apartments, a 56-unit housing community developed by the Western North Carolina Housing Partnership to provide quality, affordable homes for working families in Cherokee County. Valley River Apartments offers one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes for families whose incomes fall within affordable housing guidelines. The community was opened in 2025.
"Valley River Apartments represents years of hard work, partnership, and most importantly, commitment to making sure local families have access to safe, quality housing. We are proud that this project is being recognized as a model for rural communities across North Carolina."
Joy Strassel, Executive Director of the Western North Carolina Housing Partnership, said the award reflects the determination of local partners who persevered through disruptions and funding shortages due to the COVID19 pandemic period.
"Communities across Western North Carolina continue to face significant housing challenges," Strassel said. "Valley River Apartments demonstrates what can be accomplished when local governments, nonprofit organizations, state agencies, and community partners work together toward a common goal."
Joining Radford and Strassel at the ceremony were Susie Graham of Partnership Property Management, Western North Carolina Housing Partnership Board Chair Sherry Griffin, Board Members Olivia Collier and Karen Keihna, and Reginald Speight, Assistant Secretary for Rural Economic Development at the North Carolina Department of Commerce.
Valley River Apartments serves households earning between 40 and 60 percent of area median income and includes community amenities designed to support residents and families.
The award was presented during the annual Partners Conference hosted by the Community Affordable Housing Equity Corporation (CAHEC), a regional housing investment organization that supports affordable housing developments throughout the Southeast. The full list of Partners that collaborated to realize Valley River Apartments includes the Western North Carolina Housing Partnership (lead developer), Town of Murphy, North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA), Workforce Housing Loan Program (WHLP), North Carolina Department of Commerce (including CDBG-NR funding), Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), Dogwood Health Trust, CAHEC (Corporation for Affordable Housing Investments of the Southeast), Churchill Stateside Group, McGill Associates, Mills Construction Co., Partnership Property Management, Cherokee County, and the Southwestern Commission.
For Murphy, the recognition highlights the growing importance of workforce housing in rural communities and the role such developments play in supporting local employers, strengthening neighborhoods, and creating opportunities for families to remain in the communities they call home.
CAHEC is a community investment organization based in Raleigh, NC, and Columbia, SC, dedicated to providing housing and life-changing opportunities across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. CAHEC invests in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, historic tax credits, new markets tax credits, and renewable energy credits. It also offers loan programs, resident wellness and education initiatives, development support, and property management services. Learn more at www.cahec.com.
The Western North Carolina Housing Partnership (WNCHP) is a mission-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1994 that has emerged as a leading developer of affordable housing across 31 western North Carolina counties. Serving rural communities in Appalachia, WNCHP works closely with local governments, state agencies, and regional partners to deliver high-quality, market-rate caliber workforce housing that emphasizes dignity, stability, and genuine community pride. With a strong record of developing and preserving more than 600 affordable homes through creative LIHTC financing and effective public-private partnerships, WNCHP is known for creating thoughtfully designed communities that meet the distinct needs of rural markets while setting a higher standard for rural affordable housing in North Carolina.
Contact: Ian Bryan, WNC Housing Partnership, (828) 747-2389, ian.bryan [at] wnchousing.org (ian[dot]bryan[at]wnchousing[dot]org), www.wnchousing.org