Major Economic Development Project in Jefferson County
Earlier this year, the West Virginia Building and Construction Trades Council signed a Letter of Intent with Sidewinder Enterprises to build the Mountain Pure water bottling facility in Middleway, WV. The project is located on the old 3M plant site and is expected to include:
- A $150–$175 million capital investment
- 850 construction jobs
- 150 permanent manufacturing jobs
The economic impact study was conducted by WVU’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research.
Legislative Challenges Over Water Use
Activists raised concerns about the plant’s groundwater use, leading to multiple bills in the 2025 session that could have derailed the project. These bills targeted large-quantity groundwater users—impacting not only Sidewinder Enterprises, but also other industries like coal mining and data centers.
Thanks to a coordinated effort by the trades and project stakeholders, these bills were ultimately defeated.
Sidewinder Enterprises Pledge Their Commitment to the Community
Sidewinder Managing Partner Sean Masterson emphasized that safeguards were being implemented:
- A $1 million trust fund for any affected wells
- Real-time groundwater monitoring systems
- A new water treatment plant funded by Sidewinder for the Charlestown Utility Board
- 50,000 gallons/day of future municipal water for Middleway residents if needed
Legal Fight Against Jefferson County Planning Commission
Despite state-level success, the project remains on hold due to a lawsuit filed by Sidewinder against the Jefferson County Planning Commission. The commission rejected the company’s concept plan, which Sidewinder argues was outside their authority.
The outcome of this suit will determine whether construction, originally slated for 2025, can proceed.
