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- Trucks and heavy equipment are seen at property off Bosley Industrial Park Drive in south Parkersburg Thursday. Construction is expected to start Monday on a 250,000-square-foot distribution center to be leased by FedEx Ground. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
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- Trucks and heavy equipment are seen at property off Bosley Industrial Park Drive in south Parkersburg Thursday. Construction is expected to start Monday on a 250,000-square-foot distribution center to be leased by FedEx Ground. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Trucks and heavy equipment are seen at property off Bosley Industrial Park Drive in south Parkersburg Thursday. Construction is expected to start Monday on a 250,000-square-foot distribution center to be leased by FedEx Ground. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
PARKERSBURG — Equipment is on site and construction expected to begin Monday on a $41.3 million distribution center in south Parkersburg.
FedEx Ground will lease the planned 250,000-square-foot facility, which is expected to be operational in 2022.
John Bosley Enterprises Inc. closed on the sale of the 55-acre tract of land on Bosley Industrial Park Drive behind Walmart and Lowe’s on Wednesday, said Larry Headlee, a consultant for the Bosley companies.
“The Bosleys have worked diligently on that development project for two years,” he said. “It’s going to be a wonderful project for the area.”
A deed had not been recorded at the Wood County Clerk’s office by noon Thursday when the courthouse closed for the Christmas holiday weekend. Non-disclosure agreements prohibited Headlee from discussing more details about the project, including the identity of the buyer.
Trucks and heavy equipment are seen at property off Bosley Industrial Park Drive in south Parkersburg Thursday. Construction is expected to start Monday on a 250,000-square-foot distribution center to be leased by FedEx Ground. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
But a spokesman for FedEx Ground confirmed the shipping company will be the end user.
“The new facility will employ a mix of full- and part-time team members,” David Westrick, with FedEx Ground media relations, said in an email. “The company also will contract for package pickup and delivery services with service provider businesses that hire locally for driver, helper, manager and other positions.”
FedEx continues to see significant package volume as e-commerce grows. The company is working to optimize its capacity to meet increasing demand, Westrick said.
“The site was chosen because of its ease of access to major highways, proximity to customers’ distribution centers and a strong local community workforce for recruiting employees,” he said.
Lindsey Piersol, executive director of Wood County Economic Development, applauded the Bosley family for its investment to ensure the site was shovel-ready, a factor that helped win the project.
“I feel excited about the expansion of our tax base, the large investment and the multitude of good-paying jobs,” she said. “This is only the beginning of projects that are slated for that area, and we believe this will be a driving force.”
According to a building permit filed with Wood County, the anticipated cost of the project is $41,374,853. Headlee and Piersol said construction starts Monday.
“We’re certainly excited about the investment in Wood County and the jobs that will potentially be filled,” County Commission President Blair Couch said.
Though the property is outside the city limits, Parkersburg officials were enthusiastic about the news as well.
“Anything that expands the tax base and creates jobs is good for the local economy,” Mayor Tom Joyce said. “In today’s competitive environment, any investment is welcomed and will help our community retain and attract people to the Mid-Ohio Valley.”
“That changes … the whole area down there,” City Councilwoman Sharon Kuhl said.
Evan Bevins can be reached at [email protected].
