MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Procter & Gamble Co. executives joined Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and a host of elected officials and business leaders on Friday to break ground for the Fortune 500 company's new multimillion-dollar plant in Berkeley County.

"I want to thank you for choosing the Mountain State because we're thrilled to have you here," said Tomblin, before he, U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito, and company officials hoisted shovels of dirt for the cameras near the plant's future entrance in the Tabler Station Business Park.

Expected to open in the fall of 2017, P&G's new plant south of Martinsburg off Development Drive is expected to employ 700 full-time workers by 2019, when it reaches full operating level, company officials have said.

The first hires for the more than 1-million-square-foot plant off Exit 8 of Interstate 81 are expected to be decided by June 2016, ramping up to 300 in 2017, company officials said Friday. The Cincinnati-based consumer goods company will begin accepting online applications for jobs on Oct. 1 via www.pgcareers.com.

"We've worked hard to bring these jobs to West Virginia for West Virginians, and now these jobs need to be filled," said Tomblin, who encouraged those interested to apply as soon as possible.

Tomblin cited P&G's partnership with Blue Ridge Community and Technical College as an avenue for prospective employees to obtain the proper skills desired by the company, which has donated $30,000 to the college as part of their new relationship.

Robin Bearden, a vice president of human resources for P&G, told the crowd of about 180 people that the company pays "a competitive wage" and provides a full benefit plan, but didn't specify a salary range for the jobs at the new plant.

"West Virginia, if you work for Procter & Gamble at this facility, you will receive not only (a) full compensation and benefit package, but it will include paid holidays, paid vacation, life, medical, dental and disability insurance, a 401(k) plan and a company-paid, profit-sharing plan," Bearden said.

Manchin, D-W.Va., noted past efforts to improve West Virginia's business climate, but also told those gathered that the state doesn't have to "give away the store" to attract economic development.

At the same time, he said the state still has to continue to find ways to be globally competitive by being able to provide companies an educated, dependable workforce to provide a return on a business investment.

Property tax deal

P&G has tentatively negotiated a a 20-year abatement on property taxes with Berkeley County, with the biggest savings in the first five years, and required job creation and investment benchmarks, according to The Associated Press.

The abatement agreement between P&G and the Berkeley County Council has not yet been formally approved, according to council attorney Norwood Bentley III, who declined to elaborate on any specifics earlier this week.

In addition to the tax abatement, the state agreed to allocate $8.5 million for infrastructure improvements, including roads, water, sewer, power, gas lines and relocation of a cell tower.

In her remarks, Capito, R-W.Va., saluted the vision of the Berkeley County Development Authority and other local leaders for buying the land to create the business park in late 2003 and expanding it.

She also cited her efforts to help procure federal money for infrastructure improvements.

"So, when Procter & Gamble came knocking you had something here solid to sell," Capito said.

P&G considered 70 locations for what will be the company's fifth-largest U.S. workforce, it said. The plant will be only the second to be built in the U.S. since 1971.

The company has said the plant is part of its effort to improve access to East Coast customers and keep products on shelves. The new plant will be within a day's travel of nearly 80 percent of consumers in the eastern U.S.

It has yet to announce what products will be produced at the plant, but they will be mixed with others at a distribution facility in Shippensburg, Pa., before being delivered to customers.

The new plant will be built on a 458-acre campus that will have more than a mile of frontage along I-81. The company closed on the deal to purchase the land from the development authority for about $20 million in January and announced the deal in February.

Visionary move

County development authority board members this week credited Executive Director Stephen Christian for having the vision to expand the business park to what has been described as a potential "mega" industrial site.

More than 200 acres of undeveloped land remain in the business park. Christian said in an interview prior to Friday's ceremony that the announcement of P&G's investment only fueled more interest in the remaining acreage.

Tomblin noted the project will to create 1,000 temporary construction jobs.

An estimated 2 million to 4 million cubic yards of dirt is expected to be moved to develop the campus beginning late next month, according to P&G officials.

Excavation to a depth of much as 12 feet also will be needed at the site, and multiple geotechnical studies are still being finalized.

Yannis Skoufalos, P&G's global product supply officer, said in closing that the new plant is "a major investment" for the company, which makes everything from Crest toothpaste to Pampers diapers.

"I can assure you that P&G is here to grow with you. P&G is here to deliver best-in-class manufacturing. But we can only do so with a fantastic workforce available to us in Tabler Station and surrounding areas," Skoufalos said.