Business View Magazine - March 2016

22 Business View Magazine - April 2016 Business View Magazine - April 2016 23 proudly. “It’s a combination Blues Fest and barbeque competition. We partner with the Kansas City Bar- beque Association and our barbeque competition is ranked in the top ten in the nation. We have partici- pants from all over the country, as well as tremendous support and partnership from our business commu- nity, hospital district, school district, and city staff.” Griffin also explains how some ongoing road projects are helping the city attract new businesses, while con- tinuing to make Bedford more accessible and user- friendly for its residents. “We’ve just completed some major highway redevelopment that took about four and half years,” he says. “We went from six lanes to 16 lanes, including the access roads. All that’s been redeveloped and redone and has spurred additional business growth along that highway corridor.” Another thoroughfare in the northern part of the city is going to be redesigned, as well. “We’re going to do a com- plete redesign with wider sidewalks, more greenery, and bike paths, all to enhance access and promote a green environment opportunity.” Getting its citizens out and about is clearly a priority for Bedford’s Mayor, who is a running enthusiast, him- self. “We’ve connected with IT’S TIME TEXAS, which is a health initiative to try to get our city employees, staff, residents, school district, hospital district, and anybody interested in healthy living,” he states. “One of the things that we’re going to do is join forces with surrounding cities to push toward a ‘Blue Zone’ des- ignation, where we emphasize more healthy eating, walking, biking, and exercising.” Once almost all but abandoned, today Bedford, Texas has become a friendly and thriving community known