New manufacturing facility to open in Fairmont instead of Buckhannon, creating 75-100 jobs

FAIRMONT, W.Va (WDTV) – A manufacturing facility that was previously reported to open in Buckhannon will now be opening in Fairmont instead.

Prime 6, a leading innovator in sustainable wood products, will open its new manufacturing facility in at 24 Philips Lane in Fairmont, which is the old Phillips Lighting Co. facility. The $35 million investment is expected to create 75-100 jobs in North Central West Virginia.

While the original location for the project was announced in Upshur County during the West Virginia Chamber Business Summit, it was ultimately deemed infeasible due to environmental challenges that would have required extensive and costly remediation, delaying progress significantly, according to Governor Jim Justice’s office.

Justice said Prime 6 is renowned for its unique approach to upcycling wood waste, transforming it into high-quality products for the hospitality industry and that all of the company’s products are USDA certified.

To celebrate the facility coming to Fairmont, two public events will be held Friday — a groundbreaking ceremony and a community town hall, both featuring special guest Kevin O’Leary, entrepreneur and investor from Shark Tank.

The groundbreaking ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m. Friday at 24 Philips Lane in Fairmont, which is the old Phillips Lighting Co. facility, and the community town hall will take place at 5 p.m. at the Fairmont National Guard Armory to discuss the company’s mission, provide networking opportunities and accept on-site job applications. Both events are open to the public, and community members are encouraged to bring their resumes for immediate job consideration at the town hall.

“This investment is a shining example of West Virginia’s growing and strengthening economy, and how our state has caught the attention of the world,” Justice said. “Companies from across the globe are seeing the incredible opportunities here and choosing to put down roots in the Mountain State. I couldn’t be happier to welcome Prime 6 and Kevin O’Leary to Fairmont and celebrate this exciting milestone with them.”

Fairmont City Manager Travis Blosser echoed Justice’s sentiments.

“This is a sign of the great things to come in Fairmont. We at the City are still pushing forward with our plans of recreational development and opportunities, but the arrival of a manufacturing facility in our backyard will diversify our opportunities,” Blosser said.

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