MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Procter & Gamble plans to construct its $500 million manufacturing plant in Berkeley County in two phases according to the company’s site and development plans filed late last week with the Berkeley County Planning Department.
The company will make extensive changes to the area and roadways to accommodate the more than 4-million-square-foot manufacturing plant on 458 acres in the Tabler Station Business Park.
Executive Director of the Berkeley County Economic Development Authority Steven Christian said the economic impact is already being felt across the entire valley.
“It was inevitable that we would get lots of prospects activity and it will continue for years to come. It will be the gift that keeps on giving,” Christian predicted. “It will create its own economic solar system. I mean Tabler Station interchange, 10 years from now, is going to look like a city.”
The company announced in February that it had chosen the Berkeley County site along Interstate 81 over 40 other potential sites in several states. The project is expected to create 1,000 temporary construction jobs and as many as 700 permanent jobs.
A ground breaking ceremony will likely be held this fall according to Christian.
“Most people really can’t even comprehend how huge an economic impact this is going to make on the entire valley,” he said.
The Berkeley County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the project at 6 p.m. May 4 in the county council chambers in Dunn Building in Martinsburg.