BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — The North Central West Virginia Airport is set to undergo growth as officials plan renovations and manufacturers increase interest in the facility.
Renovations at the airport will begin in April, in which crews will start construction of a new terminal. The building is scheduled to open in October 2023.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries announced last week plans to hire 240 additional full-time employees, meaning there will be 750 workers at the airport by next spring.
Harrison County Commissioner Patsy Trecost told MetroNews affiliate WAJR-AM the growth will have a significant impact in northern West Virginia.
“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,” she said.
Trescot noted the expansion will also mean infrastructure improvements.
“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,” she said. “Also water, sewer and electricity, so we can create new housing.”
Pierpont Community College and Fairmont State University are also continuing their aviation degree programs at the airport.
“They’re both completely maxed out on their spots for people, the word is out that these jobs are here,” Airport Director Rick Rock said. “They have a great team over there producing these students in the workforce of tomorrow.”
Other construction efforts at the airport include building a new aerotech park.