On June 27, Richmond, Virginia-based global healthcare solutions company Owens & Minor broke ground on the future site of one of the region’s largest dedicated acute care medical distribution facilities.

The new facility will be located in Morgantown, West Virginia, and will be completed in late 2023. At 350,000 square feet, the center will include clinical supply capabilities for surgical kitting, custom procedure tray assembly and sterilization, the company said.

Owens & Minor was joined for the groundbreaking by its local partner, West Virginia University Health System, which operates under the brand name WVU Medicine. The partnership, which represents an estimated $50 million investment in West Virginia and is anticipated to bring more than 100 jobs to the state, was first announced in December 2021 and was expanded upon in January to provide West Virginia with Owens & Minor’s medical supply and distribution capabilities in response to future public health emergencies.

“I applaud WVU Medicine and Owens & Minor and look forward to seeing even more of what this partnership brings to West Virginia,” said West Virginia Governor Jim Justice.

“We are excited for our partnership with Owens & Minor to take shape as we work to strengthen the resiliency of our healthcare system,” said Albert L. Wright, Jr., president and chief executive officer at WVU Health System. “Our collaboration with Owens & Minor is instrumental in ensuring that we can deliver on that commitment for our clinicians and the communities we serve.”