Development, people’s hospitality send positive message to Legislature
The Bridgeport News
Thursday, September 11, 2008
By Jeff Toquinto – News Editor
The recently completed interim session of the West Virginia legislature did more than expose the state’s lawmakers to the progress and problems of Bridgeport and the rest of north central West Virginia.
It also exposed the Legislature to the hospitality and kindness of the area.
“The legislators are thrilled to be here,” said House Speaker Pro Tem Ron Fragale, who played a big role in helping the interim session come to Harrison County. “I’ve heard people comment on the hospitality of the region, and they’re impressed with the progress they’ve seen.”
Legislators had plenty of chances to see what was going on throughout the region. Roughly 20 tours were taken during the three-day meeting, which allowed various committees to get an up-close look at projects they’ve had or could have an impact on.
In fact, Legislative Manager Aaron Allred said it turned out to be one of the busiest interim sessions, particularly in terms of tours, he can recall in his 15 years.
“The people of Bridgeport, Clarksburg and Harrison County not only wanted to show the legislators a good time, but they wanted to show them how dynamic economic development is in Harrison County and this part of the state,” Allred said.
“You look at something like (Monday’s reception at the National Guard Fixed Wing Training Center at the North Central West Virginia Airport), and it’s also a learning experience.”
The reception Allred talked about was held at the National Guard hangar Monday evening.
Along with providing food and drink, the hangar also had displays of area aerospace businesses, most of which ply their trade at the Bridgeport airport.
Among those with a display in place was EASW (Engine and Airframe Solutions Worldwide), a relatively new business that has grown from roughly a half dozen employees to more than three dozen in nearly two years of operation.
Dr. Robert Martino, who heads up EASW with Ed Waske Jr., was thrilled to have a chance to expose his business to state lawmakers. He said there is a benefit to having those who can make things happen in your area for an event such as the interim session.
One of the things Martino, as well as others with operations at the airport, would like to see is more workers available to go to work.
“We’re always needing more and more people to go into this field. Those people just aren’t there,” Martino said.
“I don’t know if that’s the responsibility of the Legislature, but it certainly doesn’t hurt for them to know of our need.
“The big thing is that it gets the word out about what’s available right here in Bridgeport,” Martino said.
“You have people coming out of high school and college who can’t always find jobs, but we’ve got jobs that pay a great wage right here.
“People just don’t know what’s up here, and that’s locally as well as at the state level. Heck, I didn’t know what was up here until I got into this business.”
Martino and others talked at length about the economic development opportunities available at the airport. They also talked about what’s already taken place and the number of jobs and impact it’s had on the region despite working in what some may consider a public perception fog.
“I would imagine most members (of the Legislature) didn’t know that all of the Air National Guard fixed wing training in the country is here in Bridgeport,” Allred said. “I’d also bet they may not have known about all the jobs and explosive growth at the airport. This is really dynamic and something to see.”
Along with the tours, legislators and staff members spent much of their time in meeting rooms at the Bridgeport Conference Center. The Center was largely funded through a state economic development grant program approved by the Legislature.
“It’s certainly a good thing when you can easily show the benefit of an action by the Legislature to members of the Legislature, which is what we can do at the Conference Center,” Fragale said. “On top of that, the staff at the Center has bent over backwards to make everything work. It’s just been tremendous.”
By the end of Tuesday, the state’s leaders saw the airport, the Conference Center and more than a dozen other areas in the city and region.
Allred credited Fragale as well as fellow Delegates Sam Cann, Tim Miley and Richard Iaquinta and Senator Joe Minard for making it happen. He also offered praise to the Harrison County Chamber of Commerce and director Kathy Wagner.