Mayor Andy Lang’s smile when talking about a $1.8 million grant the City of Bridgeport received for The Bridge Sports Complex today from Gov. Jim Justice tells you all you need to know about being a bit off base eight years ago if growth at the facility was sustainable.

“When I came on board I believed in the project, but never fully believed in the scale of the project in bringing it to a community of our size,” said Lang, talking of the $50 million-plus indoor Citynet Center sitting in the heart of The Bridge property. “We did it, and it’s worked. No one is happier that my initial thought was off base than me.”

Lang was pretty happy just after noon today when Justice, along with his beloved English Bulldog Babydog, visited the indoor turf facility at The Bridge to formally present the money from the state.

“What you’re doing here with The Bridge Sports Complex is off the charts,” said Justice.

The grant rounds out the funding needed for the next phase at The Bridge. Lang said the design phase, handled by planners and engineers Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. (CEC) out of its Bridgeport location along with BRS Architects, was a constant throughout 2024.

The new outdoor portion at The Bridge will feature two full-sized multiple sports use synthetic fields, four little league/softball fields, and everything will be illuminated. It will also include state-of-the-art backstops. Lang said there will also be a restroom, changing facility building, and parking put in place as well.

(This grant funding) will all be used for infrastructure,” said Lang.

The grant is the result of the staff of The Bridge, under the direction of General Manager Droo Callahan, applying to the state for funding. The grant included $900,000 from the West Virginia Water Development Fund. The Governor’s Office added an additional $900,000 through matching dollars.

“Without our city officials and our title sponsor of Citynet, this would not be possible,” said Droo Callahan, General Manager of The Bridge who emphasized their assistance in the grant process.

The funding essentially provides Bridgeport with the final amount of money needed to get started. City Manager Pat Ford said the city has nearly $5 million escrowed, giving it more than $6 million that is needed to get started. He said it “helps close out a major capital campaign.”

The new portion of outdoor facilities at The Bridge should see ground broken this year. Callahan anticipated construction to start in July of this year with the spring of 2026 as the most optimistic expectation the new facilities will be ready for use. Lang said the project should go out to bid in the first quarter of this year.

Although Ford is still new to the city manager’s position, he is far from new at working on the economic development front. And he knows this is good for the community’s use as well as what it means in promoting Bridgeport as a destination.

“This facility and its growth have allowed us to become a true fitness community and continue to allow the city to have a true economic generator,” said Ford. “This allows us to grow the opportunities in the hospitality industry, the hotel industry, in the restaurants, and all the other services associated with it.”

Ford praised Callahan and staff for tracking the metrics showing that investment is needed to continue growth. He further praised Callahan for understanding funding avenues to help make the growth become a reality along with “his vision and foresight.”

As for Justice, who is in his final days of governor before taking a seat in the United States Senate, he echoed much of what Ford said regarding it being an economic driver.

“You’re attracting events, events, events, and more events,” said Justice. “Now, what you want to do is start soccer fields, lacrosse fields or whatever they may be and grow even more … These complexes absolutely drive economic growth in our communities like you can’t imagine. Plus, they drive health, longevity, and great stuff for our kids.”