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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Legend Lumber Plans Hardwood Yard In Boston, Kentucky

04/26/2016
Hardwoods supplier Legend Lumber Lee Corp. plans to open in a shuttered hardwood lumber concentration yard in Boston, Kentucky. The company will invest nearly $3.5 million and creating at least 30 full-time positions to produce hardwood for export to Asia.

Jie “Jack” Li, president of Legend Lumber, bought the nearly 20 acre former SEEMAC Lumber facility in Boston which closed in 2009. Li said he plans to expand it and purchase new equipment. He expects the operation to be fully operational by the end of 2017. The facility will bring in green lumber for kiln and air drying, sorting, grading and shipping.

The company’s initial 20 full-time positions will include 16 yard employees, two clerical staff and a yard manager later this year. Li anticipates hiring 10 to 15 additional yard employees in 2017.

Li brings 20 years of lumber industry experience to Kentucky and a substantial customer base which he built in Asia, primarily in his native China.

“Demand for high-quality hardwoods in China remains particularly strong,” said Li. “With help from state and local economic developers in Kentucky, I’m pleased to have identified the SEEMAC concentration yard and put together a workable deal. I look forward to opening and helping to bring jobs and activity to Nelson County.”

“Legend Lumber founder Jack Li saw demand for a product and took steps to find the best location to meet that demand,” said Governor Matt Bevin. “I’m proud to say that process led him to Kentucky. Here he found raw materials and willing partners who helped turn opportunity into reality. In addition to creating jobs and economic impact in Nelson County, Legend Lumber will add to the total value of Kentucky exports. We look forward to working with Mr. Li and his company as it grows.”

As an incentive to encourage the investment and job growth in Nelson County, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) preliminarily approved Legend Lumber for tax incentives up to $600,000 through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based incentive allows a company to keep a portion of its investment over the agreement term through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments by meeting job and investment targets.

Additionally, KEDFA approved Legend Lumber for up to $40,000 in tax incentives through the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act (KEIA). KEIA allows approved companies to recoup Kentucky sales and use tax on construction costs, building fixtures, equipment used in research and development and electronic processing.

Legend Lumber can also receive resources from the Kentucky Skills Network. Through the Kentucky Skills Network, companies are eligible to receive no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training and job training incentives.

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