Procter & Gamble has broken ground on a US$500 million West Virginia manufacturing hub, the second to be built by the FMCG giant in the US since 1971.

The Cincinnati-based manufacturer considered 70 different locations, choosing the Berkeley County site for its strategic location, which will enable P&G to reach nearly 80 percent of retail customers in the east within a day’s transit.

As part of the deal, P&G will be entitled to a 20-year abatement on property taxes in Berkeley County, with the biggest savings in the first five years. In return, P&G will have to meet targets for job creation and investment. P&G expects to employ some 700 full-time staff at the plant once it opens in 2017, and create 1000 temporary construction positions as building gets underway.

The site is one of the largest economic development projects in the state’s history, stretching more than 1 million square feet across 458 acres. West Virginia will contribute US$8.5 million towards improvements in infrastructure.