By John Mark Shaver, WV News
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice said Tuesday that while he’s not exactly sure why progress on a proposed $25 million facility for Pierpont Community and Technical College’s Aviation Maintenance Technology program has stalled, he believes the state is still ready to go with the investment.
The funding was part of Senate Bill 1029, a $52.7 million measure that supported 14 projects and was signed into law by Gov. Jim Justice in August 2023 in Bridgeport. The bill was said to allocate $25 million for a new facility at North Central West Virginia Airport to support Pierpont’s growing aviation maintenance program, which is currently at capacity. However, that specific language does not appear in the bill.
The proposed 70,000-square-foot facility would expand the program’s capacity from 130 to 200 students, addressing the increasing demand for trained workers in the local aerospace industry. The expanded capacity would help fill jobs at North Central West Virginia Airport and beyond more quickly.
But 15 months after the money was allocated, no movement has occurred on the project.
