The success of international businesses in Fairborn and Riverside widely can be attributed to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and Wright State University, city officials and business owners say.

International students and visitors pump millions of dollars into the local economy each year, and some of that goes to the ethnic-specific restaurants and groceries in Fairborn and Riverside.

“Riverside and Fairborn especially have those businesses due to the base,” said Chris Wimsatt, Fairborn’s community development director. “They seem very popular regionally and they have a good following because international folks are coming and going all the time.”

WPAFB is the state’s largest single-site employer with more than 29,000 military and civilian employees and a $4.7 billion annual economic impact, according to a report last year. The base supports nearly 36,000 jobs outside the fence with an economic impact of $1.5 billion, according to base figures. According to the Institute of International Education, Ohio ranked eighth in the country with 26,427 foreign students during the 2011-12 academic year, generating $717.2 million for the economy. That figure was up from $662.4 million in 2010-11.

Daryl Mayer, spokesman for WPAFB, said there are foreign liaison officers who serve at the base, while military personnel who serve overseas and return with their families also could be a contributing factor to the success of the international businesses.

Riverside is home to Asian, Cambodian-Mexican and Indian grocery stores, and Puerto Rican, Lebanese, Greek and Japanese restaurants, among others.

“It gives us a mom-and-pop kind of feel with unique offerings that’s different from the standard large franchise operations,” said Bob Murray, Riverside’s director of planning and economic development. “It sets us apart that way. Why they’re here is because of Wright-Patt. There is a market to offer.”

Linh’s, a popular restaurant that serves Vietnamese and Chinese dishes, is expected to move into its new location at 5532 Airway Road on Jan. 1, according to Mai Nguyen, the daughter of owners Phan and Hoa Nguyen. It’s just a little less than a mile from the current Linh’s at 4770 Airway Road. That restaurant will close shortly thereafter, Nguyen said.

The new location, called Linh’s Bistro, will be in the Page Manor Shopping Center near the Greek Isle Deli.

Among the new features at Linh’s Bistro will be an outdoor patio and a dessert menu. The seating capacity also will double.

“We have such a good clientele of customers, but our location is so small and we can’t cater to everyone,” Nguyen said. “We’ll be able to accommodate all of our customers during the lunch hour and weekends.”

Nguyen said the family didn’t want to move far away from its current location because of the diversity in the area.

“We didn’t want to lose what we have already and we want to bring new customers in as well,” she said. “There’s an opportunity with our menu to be more diverse and explore a little bit. People from different regions are more open to try different cuisines. It’s such a diverse atmosphere.”

The Riverside Area Chamber of Commerce regularly hosts an “International Night” to support the city’s international businesses. Fifteen restaurants are on the list representing nine ethnicities.

“(International businesses) are invaluable,” said Sara Lommatzsch, a board member for the chamber of commerce. “We have a community of diverse demographics that needs that sort of support.”

Riverside Mayor Bill Flaute believes the city is in a good location because it’s a “bridge between the economically-challenged Dayton and the more affluent city of Beavercreek.”

“The base brings a lot of different nationalities to visit the area,” Flaute said. “Riverside is close by, and opening a business in Riverside is a lot cheaper than you can in Beavercreek or Fairborn. Maybe that’s why people are choosing Riverside.”

Fairborn also has several Asian restaurants and grocery stores, as well as European-related amenities, along Kauffman Avenue and downtown. Wimsatt said that with so many chain restaurants around The Mall at Fairfield Commons in Beavercreek, the city should focus on the independent businesses.

Tickets, a family-owned restaurant in Fairborn since 1974, serves Greek items. Owner Lisa Zavakos said the presence of the base and WSU is a big reason why international businesses have prospered in Fairborn.

“People are traveling more than they ever did before,” Zavakos said. “And they are more knowledgeable about foreign foods.”

Wright State’s international student population jumped from 777 in the fall of 2011 to a record-high of 1,039 this fall, with 66 countries represented. In 2005, WSU had 563 international students.

Michelle Streeter-Ferrari, WSU’s director of the university center for international education, said WSU has developed stronger partnerships with universities abroad. Streeter-Ferrari said WSU gives incoming international students a booklet that lists all of the international restaurants and groceries in the area.

“International students are going to find things that they’re used to and comfortable with,” she said. “They help the economy by spending their money, whether they’re living on campus or off campus, and purchasing groceries and items to live with.”

Additionally, the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force annually attracts 1.2 million visitors from all over the world.

“Clearly, (international businesses are) important because we have so many of them,” Wimsatt said. “There’s a market. Since the base draws so many international folks into the region, it’s pretty important to have amenities that cater to that demographic. We probably should have more.”