Three buildings in Matewan are expected to be renovated over the next few years. Using $1.7 million from the U.S. Economic Development Authority, Coalfield Development Corp. and the West Virginia Mine Wars Museum plan to transform the buildings into a job training center while preserving mine wars and unionization history.

These buildings have a history that’s also part of an Italian immigrant family. In fact, when people hear the name Nenni in Matewan, they normally think of Nenni’s Department store and the late Eddie Nenni, the latest in this storied family to run the business.