MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Production begins Wednesday at the new Procter & Gamble manufacturing plant at Tabler Station in Martinsburg, a company spokesman said.
“Where we are now is the plant is getting ready to produce, on Feb. 14, to start producing its first Bounce products,” P&G Communications Director Jeff LeRoy said.
Construction will continue on other parts of the plant as the production begins, LeRoy said.
“It’s still a massive construction site with about a thousand construction workers but it will start producing product,” he said.
P&G has hired 300 full-time workers at the plant, more than half, approximately 160, are local new hires. Most of the employees are in training on site at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College.
LeRoy expects additional interest from applicants once the production begins.
“Until now we haven’t been producing anything and so a lot of people weren’t sure when that would be happening. The hiring really ramps up this year and next year,” he said.
P&G now plans to have 900 workers at the plant when its fully operating in 2020. It announced the additional 200 workers last week when it announced the Martinsburg plant would be the sole manufacturing site for shampoos in North America for P&G.
The brand portfolio at the plant now includes: Pantene, Head & Shoulders, Aussie and Herbal Essences shampoos and conditioners; Olay, Old Spice, Gillette and Ivory body washes; Dawn, Joy, Gain and Ivory hand dish washing products; Swiffer; and Bounce.
Those interested in apply for jobs can go to pgcareers.com