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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Woodgrain Expands Smyth-Grayson County, Virginia, Operations

08/23/2021
Woodgrain Inc., a manufacturer of wood moulding and trim, will invest roughly $9 million to expand its operations in Smyth County, and invest more than $8 million to purchase and expand the former Independence Lumber sawmill in Grayson County, Virginia. The two projects are expected to create 100 new jobs.

The dimensional sawmill in Grayson County will be the company’s first sawmill on the East Coast. Woodgrain plans to retain the sawmill’s existing employees and create 20 new jobs at the facility. In Smyth County, Woodgrain will improve its existing manufacturing facility and expand into another building, creating 80 new jobs and increasing that facility’s purchases of Virginia-grown forest products by nearly 20 percent.

“We are excited about expanding our operations and furthering our commitment to Southwest Virginia,” said Woodgrain Eastern Region Millwork Manager Robb Hitch. “We believe this will have a significant, positive impact on the local economy and allow us to further leverage our vertical integration by supplying lumber to our millwork location in Smyth County and throughout the Southwest. It’s a win-win situation that will allow us to continue to provide best-in-class service and product.”

When the sawmill upgrades in Grayson County are complete, it will become the primary supplier for the company’s Smyth County operation. This will allow Woodgrain to source 90 percent of its new forest products needs from the Commonwealth, leading to the purchase of an additional nine million board feet of Virginia-grown forest products over the next three years.

“New and expanding markets for Virginia forest products are vital to the sustainable management of the Commonwealth’s 16 million acres of forestland,” said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Bettina Ring. “These major expansions by Woodgrain will not only retain and create new high-paying jobs in Southwest Virginia, but also expand important market opportunities for our landowners, leading to a healthier forest resource.”

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP), and Virginia’s Industrial Advancement Alliance worked with Grayson and Smyth Counties to secure the project for the Commonwealth. Governor Northam approved $350,000 in awards from the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development program to secure these projects for the Commonwealth. Funding and services to support the company’s employee training activities will be provided through the Virginia Economic Development Partnership’s Virginia Jobs Investment Program.

“Virginia’s Industrial Advancement Alliance is extremely excited to help finalize both expansions of Woodgrain Millwork in Grayson and Smyth Counties,” said Virginia’s Industrial Advancement Alliance (VIAA) Executive Director Josh Lewis. “These expansions will strengthen the supply chain in the region. Congratulations to Grayson County, Smyth County, VIAA Business Retention and Expansion staff, Virginia Economic Development Partnership project managers, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Tobacco Commission for helping deliver another big win for the region.”

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