Advantage Valley Celebrates Ribbon Cutting of Waterway Industrial Park Welcoming New Tenant Centauri Ground Support
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (June 26, 2026) — Advantage Valley joined the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce today to celebrate the ribbon cutting recognizing the organization’s investment in the rehabilitation of Waterways Industrial Park. Announced in May, Centauri Ground Support LLC, a joint venture of Sandvik and Alpha Metallurgical Resources (NYSE: AMR) will establish a new manufacturing operation at the site through a projected $25 million investment.
The rehabilitation of the facility was completed in just 13 months. Advantage Valley invested more than $6.5 million in funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration and the West Virginia Economic Development Authority to transform the industrial property into a site ready for high-quality manufacturing tenants such as Centauri Ground Support. Construction financing for the project was provided by Poca Valley Bank. The project is expected to create at least 150 new jobs in the region and further demonstrates the value of investing in site readiness to attract new manufacturing opportunities to West Virginia.
“We purchased this building because it was sitting vacant and abandoned in an area where there is a strong need for industrial sites, both in our region and across the state,” said Terrell Ellis, President and CEO of Advantage Valley. “With the help of our partners, we have transformed this facility from the ground up into a site that is ready for development and industrial investment. We could not be more pleased that less than 13 months after rehabilitation began, we have a tenant coming in that will create up to 150 new jobs for this area. This project is a success story for what regional collaboration and strategic site development can accomplish.”
Centauri Ground Support will begin plans to start construction for its manufacturing operations for its ground support business serving the U.S. market focused on rock bolt and resin capsule manufacturing. The partnership marks Sandvik’s return to domestic manufacturing for its Ground Support division and is expected to strengthen customer relationships, reduce lead times, and support long-term growth across the North American market.
“Today’s ribbon cutting marks an exciting new chapter for the Waterways Industrial Park and for Putnam County. Centauri’s Ground Support’s investment and commitment to creating new, good paying jobs is exactly the type of economic growth we need in West Virginia,” U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Senator Capito (R-W.Va.) said. “By revitalizing this facility and attracting new manufacturing opportunities, we are strengthening our local economy, supporting energy generation, and demonstrating that West Virginia is a great place to expand manufacturing.”
The joint venture also advances Alpha Metallurgical Resources’ efforts to strengthen its domestic supply chain by increasing the production of mining materials in Central Appalachia, further supporting industrial growth and manufacturing investment in West Virginia. In addition to supplying Alpha Metallurgical Resources, the joint venture will also manufacture and distribute ground support products to customers throughout the United States.
Advantage Valley’s vision to transform an underutilized industrial property into a market-ready site played a key role in attracting this investment. By proactively rehabilitating the facility and creating a site with existing infrastructure, the organization provided the type of ready-to-develop location Sandvik was seeking, allowing the company to accelerate its timeline and bring new jobs to the region.
“This site met our criteria in terms of both space and readiness,” said Thomas Vallant, President of Sandvik’s Ground Support division. “It offers the capacity we need and requires only minor upgrades, allowing us to accelerate our timeline by up to 12 months compared with a greenfield development. We are therefore well positioned to begin production and bring our first products to market in the second half of 2027.”
Comments from other elected officials:
- Senator Glenn Jeffries, Senator District 8
“This announcement is another example of what can be accomplished when local leaders, economic development organizations, and private industry work together with a shared vision. I want to congratulate Advantage Valley, Sandvik, Alpha Metallurgical Resources, the Putnam County Commission, and the Putnam County Development Authority for their commitment to making this project a reality. The $25 million investment and creation of up to 150 new jobs are a tremendous win for Putnam County and all of West Virginia. Transforming a once-vacant industrial property into a thriving manufacturing operation demonstrates the value of investing in site readiness and creating opportunities that strengthen our economy for years to come.”
- Kathie Hess Crouse, Delegate District 19
“I want to congratulate Centauri Ground Support Manufacturing on their ribbon cutting and welcome them to District 19. Investments like this strengthen our local economy, create new job opportunities, and demonstrate that West Virginia continues to be an attractive place for businesses to grow and succeed. This is exactly the kind of investment I have worked to encourage bringing new businesses, new jobs, and new opportunities to West Virginia families while helping keep our workforce strong and our communities growing. As a legislator, I have consistently supported policies that promote economic development and make West Virginia competitive for employers looking to invest and expand. I am proud to support efforts that bring good-paying jobs and manufacturing opportunities to our communities, and I look forward to the positive impact Centauri will have on Putnam County, District 19, and our region for years to come.”
Advantage Valley plans to make an additional $1 million investment to complete the facility’s renovations, including expanding the site’s electrical infrastructure and enhancing the barge access area. These improvements will further strengthen the property’s ability to support future industrial growth and advanced manufacturing operations.
For more information about Advantage Valley please visit www.advantagevalley.com
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Advantage Valley, Inc. is a regional economic development organization whose mission is to grow economic opportunity in the Charleston-Huntington Metro Area by increasing investment in the region, leveraging resources, and building collaboration among community stakeholders.