BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – Economic growth has resulted in big changes for the North Central West Virginia Airport, and the transformation is set to begin in April, according to airport director Rick Rock.
“The success of Mitsubishi, they’re growing, our airport service is growing and they can’t continue to grow beside each other, they’re choking each other off,” Rock said,” So, that required us to move our terminal.
The earthwork needed to move the terminal will begin in April and will take about 12 months. The new terminal is expected to open in October of 2023.
In the mean time, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is ramping up the regional aircraft maintenance operation.
In the pandemic, use of 50-seat regional jets has increased as a way for airlines to save money. Mitsubishi will hire an additional 240 aircraft maintenance workers by the spring of 2021 bring the total number of workers there to about 700.
The growth has also created opportunity for Pierpont Community College and Fairmont State University which both have aviation degree programs. That opportunity is extended to students who can learn a trade that pays a living wage and allows to stay in West Virginia.
“They’re both completely maxed out on their spots for people, the word is out that these jobs are here,” Rock said,” They have a great team over there producing these students in the workforce of tomorrow.”
Harrison County commissioner Patsy Trecost insists the airport growth will have a lasting impact for the immediate area and the region.
“It’s just not going to effect Monongalia County, Marion and Harrison, but Taylor, Barbour, Doddridge, Lewis and Upshur, Trecost said,” People are coming in from everywhere to work here and of course they’re taking money back to their county, and economic well continues to flow.”
The expansion will also create opportunities for “quality of life” improvements throughout the region, but Trecost says it’s something they have to continue working at.
“We always talk about roads, but remember it’s also fiber optic cable for better communications as we adapt and evolve to learn and work from home,” Trecost said,” But, also water, sewer and electricity so we can create new housing- everything we talk about builds jobs.”
According to Trecost, this opportunity gives young people the chance to get a certification that provides a good job, with that comes the independence to buy a house and start a family.
“We haven’t seen this kind of opportunity in a blue collar industry for some 25 years,” Trecost said,” We’re looking forward to the ability to build off of this for the next generation or two in West Virginia.”