Justice announces economic development project for Berkeley County
September 1, 2023
White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. – Gov. Jim Justice announced Thursday a new multi-million-dollar project for Berkeley County on the second day of the largest annual event featuring leaders in business and politics in West Virginia.
Virginia-based Triton International Enterprises and Klarpet, a Turkish company, launched a joint venture called Treplar, which will manufacture biodegradable food wrapping in Berkeley County, Justice said.
Justice and Treplar President Murat Ogulcan made the announcement Thursday morning at the start of the second day of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce 87th Annual Meeting and Business Summit at the Justice-owned Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs.
“This company is on the cutting edge of making a product that is food wrapping that is completely biodegradable,” Justice said. “This company has successfully set up its state-of-the-art facility, deployed cutting edge equipment and has hired a skilled workforce aiming to begin production in the upcoming months.”
The Treplar project based in Martinsburg represents a $50 million investment and is projected to create up to 600 high-paying jobs when completed.
Treplar will create XPET, a proprietary biodegradable product aimed at replacing polystyrene (Styrofoam) trays. XPET is made from a recycled resin that is stronger than polystyrene and can be recycled.
“Our journey began many years ago with a question: how can we imagine packaging that can be both functional and environmentally responsible,” Ogulcan said. “Today, we are thrilled to introduce our company Treplar and our new home in West Virginia. Our new product is a catalyst for change. Our trays for food packaging are recycle-ready and designed to reduce waste and respond to increasing demands for products that do not harm the environment.”
Thursday’s announcement was the second economic development announcement made at the Chamber of Commerce summit. Justice announced Wednesday that California-based Omnis Fuel Technologies had re-fired the closed coal-fired Pleasants Power Plant near St. Marys as it begins the transition of the plant to run on hydrogen.
The Eastern Panhandle has become a manufacturing and distribution powerhouse in recent years. According to the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Chamber of Commerce, some of the top 10 largest employers in the area are Procter and Gamble and Macy’s. At the end of 2022, Commercial Metals Co. announced a $450 million micro-mill project in Berkeley County.
“Yesterday, we had an incredible economic development announcement with the Pleasants Power Plant back online,” Justice said. “What is going on in the Eastern Panhandle of this state is phenomenal beyond belief. What is going on all across this state is absolutely a movement towards jobs and opportunities for our kids and so many things right at our fingertips. It is un-flat-believable.”
Story by Steven Allen Adams, Parkersburg News and Sentinel