MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The search for enough PPE in the early days of the pandemic by WVU Medicine is at the root of a partnership that will mean new jobs in the Morgantown area.
Photo/WVU Medicine
The governor’s office announced last week that Fortune 500 company Owens & Minor plans to open a medical distribution and logistics facility in Morgantown.
The location will employ more than 100 workers when it is fully-operational.
According to Wright, two years ago when PPE was hard to get and highly valued this idea took root in the organization.
“Our goal was just in time inventory and have as little onsite as possible,” Wright said. “So we all got caught not knowing what to do when COVID came and we all think a lot more about personal protective equipment right now.”
While part of the WVU Medicine team scrambled to meet the PPE needs across the system another part of the team began to make plans to prevent a shortage from occurring again.
“We made a decision that we were going to look around at who are suppliers would be and who we would purchase from but distributors that we not only purchase from, but they take the supplies to our hospitals,” Wright said.
The plan began to take shape when the leadership of Owens & Minor made a trip to Morgantown. Meetings followed with Gov. Jim Justice, Justice administration Chief of Staff Brian Abraham and Economic Development Director Mitch Carmichael. More face-to-face meetings continued between the leaders of both companies after top state officials affirmed their support for the partnership that will benefit both organizations.
“It’s also nice when you gel from a personality standpoint and Owens & Minor CEO Ed (Pesicka) has been to West Virginia with me three or four times now,” Wright said. “And they have a similar culture as ours at WVU Medicine.”
Owens & Minor has some offshore capacity, but they are an American company with substantial operations in this country.
“I also think the fact that we are striving to work with American-based manufacturers and suppliers and bring jobs to West Virginia resonates with most of our employees,” Wright said.
Owens & Minor plans to locate in a 250,000-square foot building in the WestRidge Business and Retail Park. The project valued at $50 million is expected to be occupied about 18 months after construction begins. A start date for the work has not been set.
“I’ll sleep better at night knowing those supplies will be in Morgantown and we’re going to be able to take care of our own should we ever find ourselves in a similar situation that we were two years ago,” Wright said.
Owens & Minor was founded in 1882 and has grown into a Fortune 500 company that employs more than 15,000 worldwide. The company manufactures and distributes surgical and PPE products through 1,200 branded suppliers.