Forest products and LBM producer Roseburg Forest Products is expanding its operations in the southeast with the construction of a high-capacity lumber mill in Weldon, N.C. The 375,000-square-foot facility will be called Roanoke Valley Lumber and will be located on approximately 200 acres of land in Halifax County.
Construction on the facility is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2022, with a planned startup scheduled for later in 2022. Roseburg says Roanoke Valley Lumber will be one of the highest-capacity sawmills on the east coast, capable of producing as many as 400 million board feet of dimensional lumber per year.
“Low interest rates, a surge in home remodeling, and growing demand for single-family housing are pushing the industry to increase domestic lumber production capacity as quickly as possible,” Roseburg president and CEO Grady Mulbery said in a prepared statement. “This new mill is an exciting strategic growth opportunity that integrates well with our other North American operations and client base. We are grateful to the state of North Carolina, and the county and town partners who helped make this project possible.”
Roseburg purchased 158,000 acres of timberland in North Carolina and Virginia in 2017, making it the largest private timberland owner in the Roanoke Valley area. The company anticipates creating 137 new jobs over the first two years upon the sawmill’s completion.
“Our business model of growing trees, converting them into high-quality wood products that improve people’s lives, then replanting to start the process over again is a testament to our long-term commitment to our industry and the communities where we operate,” senior vice president of operations Jake Elston said. “We are excited to build and operate a world-class facility, while growing our relationships and serving key clients on the eastern seaboard with expanded product offerings.”
Springfield, Ore.-based Roseburg manufactures softwood and hardwood plywood, lumber, LVL, I-joists, particleboards, and laminates. The privately-owned company owns and manages more than 600,000 acres of timberland in Oregon, North Carolina, and Virginia. Roseburg currently has 14 manufacturing facilities in North America, including a short lumber stud mill in Dillard, Ore.
