BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — The Vietnam Veterans of America’s national headquarters could be moving to Harrison County.
Bridgeport’s Charles Point and Pittsburgh are among four finalists to be the new home for the VVA, according to Secretary of State Kris Warner.
Warner said he brought a group of local leaders together to meet with a VVA delegation that included President Tom Burke. The organization is seeking to exit their current headquarters in Washington D.C. due to the high cost of operations.
“It’s more than just a building or a location,” Warner said on WAJR’s “Talk of the Town.” “They’re going to rent office space to bring approximately 30 employees, and most of those would be hired here if they move to Bridgeport,” Warner said.
Warner said the organization is also looking for a second site that would directly support operations in Washington, D.C.
“They’re also looking at maybe a satellite office in the eastern panhandle to house the folks that lobby the U.S. Congress,” Warner said. “So, they’re looking at two locations in West Virginia.”
The cost of living in Harrison County is more than 10 percent below the national average, and Charles Point offers a new, stand-alone community close to important destinations in the state. The VVA delegation was able to hear from local leaders about the local economy and amenities.
“I think we can show the benefits of a smaller community but with all of the assets they’re going to find in a bigger city like Pittsburgh,” Warner said.
The delegation got details about healthcare facilities; the aerospace industry; transportation assets, including the North Central West Virginia Airport; and cultural things like the Robinson Grand Theater, the Italian Heritage Festival and the Clarksburg History Museum.
“We know our ace in the hole is our people but they also need to know about our healthcare facilities, the Louis A. Johnson VA Hospital and the WVU Hospital—those are important factors,” Warner said.
Warner made it a point to make sure the delegation understood the West Virginia commitment to serving the nation. Warner was able to make that connection not just with stories, but with numbers from the Vietnam War.
“There were more veterans that died in Vietnam from West Virginia than any other state in the country,” Warner said. “So, we’re patriotic and loyal, and I think that’s what they’re feeling.”
The VVA is expected to make a final decision in August.