Pet food and products manufacturer Nestle Purina PetCare Co. is moving forward on a $128 million project to increase the size and capacity of its cat litter production plant in King William County, Virginia to respond to increased consumer demand, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Wednesday.

During the effort, the company said it will build 138,000 sq ft of space to boost the site’s capacity and “enhance business operations” for Tidy Cats litter products, including the LightWeight formulas like Free & Clean Unscented. 100,000 sq ft of warehouse space will also be added to the facility to improve logistics management and delivery capabilities.

“The investment in Virginia provides an exciting opportunity to strengthen our operations in King William,” Travis Gumbs, factory manager for Purina, said in a release. “We are committed to delivering the innovative litter solutions cat owners trust, with a continued focus on safety and sustainability in our operations. We are proud to be part of the King William community and look forward to many more opportunities to make a positive impact for pets and people.”

Nestle Purina’s decision to invest in the Virginia location comes after Gov. Northam attended a meeting with the firm’s CEO and Nestle’s headquarters in Switzerland as part of an international marketing mission in Europe in May.  

“Nestle Purina PetCare has been a vital contributor to King William County’s economy for more than two decades, and this major investment further solidifies its commitment to the community,” said Gov. Northam in a statement. “With multiple operations across Virginia, Nestle is an important partner to our Commonwealth, and we look forward to supporting this global company and household brand in its next chapter of growth.”

Work on the facility is projected to reach completion in late 2023.

The expansion announcement follows on the heels of other major cat litter facility projects capacity in recent years. In February, cat products maker Dr. Elsey’s said it was relocating its litter manufacturing facility from Englewood, CO to a site in Swan Ranch, WY to be closer to its source for silver sodium bentonite clay and improve its access to the railway system. Nestle Purina revealed plans to expand its Tidy Cats litter plant in Bloomfield, MO in early 2019.