Loan OK'd in move to land new employer

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — The West Virginia Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council approved a $2 million loan Wednesday as part of ongoing efforts to land a company that could bring more than 2,500 jobs to Berkeley County.

The loan from IJDC to the West Virginia Economic Development Authority would allow the state to purchase property and reimburse some site-work costs at a proposed location for the unnamed company in Tabler Station Business Park, according to Berkeley County Development Authority Executive Director Stephen Christian.

The loan reflects the IJDC's commitment to the first phase of what could be a two-phase project if the company's investment ultimately comes to Berkeley County, Christian said.   

"We still feel we're going to know whether we win the project in the month of October," Christian said.

The first phase of the investment, currently dubbed "Project Java," would be a $48 million distribution center that would create 400 permanent jobs and up to 1,000 seasonal jobs, according to Christian.

"We are trying to win both phases," Christian said.

Berkeley County is a finalist to land the investment, according to Christian.

Prior to IJDC's vote, the Berkeley County Development Authority asked the Berkeley County Planning Commission to review sketch plans to build more than 2 million square feet of industrial building space at Tabler Station Business Park south of Martinsburg.

Those plans, which propose construction of 2,500 parking spaces at the first of two warehouse/distribution center-type buildings in the business park were advanced last month to the next plan review stage by the Planning Commission.

The buildings would be constructed on two lots totaling 195 acres in the business park, and each structure would cover more than 1 million square feet, Christian has said.

The facility would be similar to the Macy's distribution facility under construction in Cumbo Yard Industrial Park, according to Christian. He added that the company is similar in quality and stature.

The Macy's online distribution center facility is about 1.3 million square feet.