BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. (WBOY) — State Treasurer Riley Moore visited Northstar Technologies' facility in Bridgeport to discuss economic development opportunities for the aviation and aerospace industry in north central West Virginia. did.
Airlines and repair facilities are starting construction on new multi-million dollar warehouses. Moore said he wants to continue to see the aviation industry expand in north-central West Virginia, which has a “long history of aviation.”
“We have 100 acres of flat land there. [North Central West Virginia] “Airports, we're there for a reason, because we want to see more economic activity and more growth in the defense and aerospace industry,” Moore said.
Moore also said he hopes qualified workers in the area will stay and work as the industry expands. According to Moore, one of Northstar Technologies' current employees is actually a Pierpont Community & Technical College graduate who has continued to develop the aviation program.
“So it's working,” Moore said. “We're training people and they're coming into the workforce. We just want to continue to grow that pipeline and increase that opportunity here in this part of the state.”
Moore told 12 News that West Virginia is often overlooked, but he believes this discussion is important on a personal level because he previously worked in defense and aerospace.
“Everyone here is coming in and joining the team to grow it,” Moore said. He added that if elected to Congress, he would especially like to establish a new position in which he can advocate for the expansion of these industries.
“What I want to do is be able to highlight all the great things we've done here,” Moore said. “Whether it's the companies that are in the area today or the schools that are here in Pierpont, we're training a lot of great talent.”
Moore also said Northstar Technologies has continued to expand since opening a store in Bridgeport and hopes to “continue that trajectory.”
