PRESIDENT: Edward Lavernoich
Phone: 203-335-3800
Email: lavernoich@brbc.org
The Bridgeport Economic Development Corporation (BEDCO), an affiliate of the Bridgeport Regional Business Council (BRBC), is a legally sanctioned economic development corporation organized under the laws of the State of Connecticut as a 501 (C) 3 corporate entity. As such BEDCO has the authority to undertake and manage development projects, borrow money, issue bonds, and undertake all related development activity as defined in the authorizing statutes
BEDCO is governed by a Board of Directors, made up of appointees from the Board of Directors of the BRBC and appointees from the City of Bridgeport.
BEDCO Activities
- Assemble land for industrial and commercial expansion when designated as Development Agency (under Statute) for the City of Bridgeport
- Administer brownfield cleanups
- Provide grant/financing administration services for private companies receiving state economic development assistance
- Provide grant/financing administration services and project management for neighborhood organizations
- Provide cost-effective capacity to the City and State’s economic development efforts
Some Past BEDCO projects
- Boston Avenue Industrial Park
- Devar Instrumentation expansion
- Chapin & Bangs expansion
- Carpenter Technology expansion
- Producto Machine expansion
- Lacey Manufacturing expansion (3 times)
- Bridgeport Innovation Center modernization
- Read’s Artspace adaptive reuse
- Arcade Hotel acquisition and restoration
- Modern Plastics expansion, West End Municipal Development Project
- Seaview Avenue Industrial Park
- Management of project infrastructure and property improvement funding for Lower East Side Development Corporation
The 2019 BEDCO BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
David Levine, Cohen and Wolf PC; BEDCO Board Chair
Paul Timpanelli, Hodson Realty, BEDCO Treasurer
Edward Lavernoich; BEDCO President & Secretary of the Board
Paul Antinozzi, Antinozzi & Associates
John Bundschuh, People's United Bank
Albert Carbone, Avangrid/UIL
Angel dePara Jr., City of Bridgeport
George Estrada, University of Bridgeport
Maureen Funke, Greenbox-is
Carolyn Gonzalez, Capital for Change
Charles Scott, Tri-State Realty
Charles Stallworth, State Representative, 126th District
PERMANENT BEDCO DIRECTOR EMERITUS:
Kenneth Oppedisano, Main Enterprises Inc., BEDCO Board Chair 2007-2017
IN MEMORIAM:
Representative Ezequiel Santiago 1973-2019
BEDCO Board Director, and Vice Chairman from 2015 until his passing.
