EASTERN PANHANDLE, W.Va. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) today made several stops in the Eastern Panhandle focused on economic development and addiction recovery efforts.

First
, Senator Capito delivered remarks during the grand opening ceremony for Clorox Company’s new Fresh Step® Cat Litter Plant in Martinsburg, W.Va., followed by a tour of the facility. The plant at Tabler Station will produce Clorox’s signature cat litter brands, Fresh Step® and Scoop Away®.

“Clorox has exceeded their reputation of being an employee-first company, and I am so impressed by their exceptional efforts to make West Virginia a better place to live and work, as evidence by support from their plant employees at today’s event,”
Senator Capito said. “They are providing our workforce with tremendous opportunities here in the Eastern Panhandle, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact this investment will make in the region.”

“Clorox is proud to continue manufacturing in the great state of West Virginia,”
Michael Holly, vice president of product supply services at The Clorox Company, said. “Our third facility in the state, this world-class operation will allow us to move faster and work smarter to meet consumer needs, all while operating with our purpose to champion people to be well and thrive at the forefront and having a positive impact on the local economy. At Clorox, investing in our people and the places where we operate is built into the way we do business. We look forward to doing the same for our new Martinsburg teammates and local community. Seeing this project go from a concept on paper to a state-of-the-art facility was no small feat, and even more remarkable that a large part of the work was done during the course of the pandemic. The teammates who worked on this project showed resilience, courage and a lot of creativity, and exemplified our values every day. Thank you to the Martinsburg community for the warm welcome and support.”

Next
, Senator Capito traveled to Kearneysville, W.Va. where she delivered the keynote address during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Mountaineer Recovery Village, a center that includes a variety of services aimed at helping patients recover from substance use disorders. Senator Capito played an integral role for this project, which is a centerpiece of the Recovery Center’s long-term goal and is under the Semper Liberi subsidiary of Mountaineer Behavioral Health. Specifically, Senator Capito advocated for and secured funding for the project through a Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) request she made.

“Semper Liberi has made a tremendous impact on recovery in the Eastern Panhandle,” 
Senator Capito said. “The housing and workforce development aspects of the partnership with Mountaineer Behavioral Health and their broader recovery community are revolutionary to not only the state of West Virginia, but to the entire nation. I worked hard during the Congressionally Directed Spending process to advocate for, and ultimately secure, the funding needed to make this project a reality, and I hope it will become a model for our neighbors across the country.”

“This is a huge day for the recovery community in the Eastern Panhandle,” 
Neil McLaughlin, Board Chair of Semper Liberi, said. “Living in the Mountaineer Recovery Village will provide stability and sustained connection with others in recovery.”

“Often times, those dealing with substance use disorder must choose between their children or recovery. Most recovery residences do not allow children or families to stay together during this critical time,” 
Dr. Jonathan Hartiens, board member of Semper Liberi and CEO of Mountaineer Behavioral Health, said. “The Mountaineer Recovery Village is the only recovery-based neighborhood that will allow families to stay together during their recovery process.”

Photos from today’s events are included below:

 

10-21-2022 Clorox
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) particpates the Clorox Company’s new Fresh Step® Cat Litter Plant grand opening ceremony in Martinsburg, W.Va. on Friday, October 21, 2022.

 

10-21-2022 Clorox 2
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) tours the Clorox Company’s new Fresh Step® Cat Litter Plant in Martinsburg, W.Va. on Friday, October 21, 2022.

 

10-21-2022 MRV
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) delivers the keynote address at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Mountaineer Recovery Village in Kearneysville, W.Va. on Friday, October 21, 2022.

 

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