Why Bridgeport? The Critical Nature of Infrastructure
By Jon Griffith on December 03, 2022 from Why Bridgeport?
I attend a lot of ribbon cuttings.
If you frequent social media, you may have seen one or more of my posts for these new businesses in our community. As a member of the 
Bridgeport City Council, it is an honor and privilege to be able to welcome new business owners to our city. I also understand the significant importance of these new businesses as well as the need to keep the ones we already have.
Bridgeport City Council, it is an honor and privilege to be able to welcome new business owners to our city. I also understand the significant importance of these new businesses as well as the need to keep the ones we already have.
Have you ever wondered why a business decides to locate in a particular place or town? The study of why businesses make decisions is critical to municipalities as they attempt to retain companies within their borders and seek to attract new ones. Rest assured there are a variety of reasons and each business is unique in the rationale for its decision, but some factors appear consistently relevant.
At the top of the list are usually population, infrastructure, and quality of life. The latter matters because it is essential in recruiting and retaining talented employees. While it doesn’t always sound exciting, infrastructure is vitally important to both businesses and residents.
Bridgeport’s infrastructure and quality of life check almost all of the necessary boxes for a prospective business owner. Located at the intersection of two major transportation arteries in I-79 and US Route 50, combined with an active and growing North Central West Virginia Regional Airport, Bridgeport is in an extremely accessible location. CityNet has made high-speed broadband internet available throughout the city. Hope Gas and Mon Power-FirstEnergy provide outstanding utility services to our community.
Bridgeport schools are consistently ranked among the best in the state. All of those are tremendous advantages for Bridgeport but are beyond the control of the city government.
Improving and marketing those factors that business owners are looking for, that are within our control, can give a city an edge in pursuing new businesses and industries, which grows the municipal tax base. Business and Occupation (B&O) taxes, building permit fees, and hotel taxes brought in from these companies are critical in helping to fund the operations of the city. These funds allow Bridgeport to
provide a top-rated Fire and Police Department, a thriving and progressive Parks and Recreation Department, a vibrant and active Library, a systematic and aggressive road, sidewalk, and trail program through the Engineering and Public Works Departments, reliable and clean water from our Water and Waste Water Treatment Departments, and others.
provide a top-rated Fire and Police Department, a thriving and progressive Parks and Recreation Department, a vibrant and active Library, a systematic and aggressive road, sidewalk, and trail program through the Engineering and Public Works Departments, reliable and clean water from our Water and Waste Water Treatment Departments, and others.
These things all contribute to an improved quality of life for our residents and are major attractions for employers. Combined with our Community Development Department’s forward-thinking Business Incentive Grants, Facade Improvement Grants, and the Business Retention Committee’s efforts, Bridgeport is an extremely attractive option for a business location.
Putting funding into these infrastructure areas is an investment that pays back big dividends by bringing new businesses and industries into the city as well as helping to retain our current ones. Funding infrastructure creates a cycle of growth that drives development and improves the community. Former City Councils, Mayors, and City Managers understood this just as today’s officials do.
So, “Why Bridgeport?” It started with a vision, followed by a long line of forward-thinking leaders and public servants working together to achieve a common goal. Over the last 60-plus years, Bridgeport has been fortunate to have just that kind of leadership and community support, and I hope that this community will continue this vision well into the future.
Editor's Note: Top photo shows Jon Griffith with Stephanie Hayhurst Hall at her business' ribbon cutting, while a master plan for the Benedum Civic Center grounds is shown below.
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