Georgia-Pacific recently announced plans to build a 300,000-sq.-ft. $100 million facility in Talladega, Ala.
Construction on the lumber production plant will start immediately and should be complete by the end of 2018, Alabama Newscenter reported. The facility will be at the location of the company's old plywood mill that it closed in 2008.
“The availability of talent and natural resources make Talladega an ideal site for this new lumber production facility,” said Fritz Mason, vice president and general manager, Georgia-Pacific Lumber. “The City of Talladega, Talladega County and the state of Alabama have been incredibly supportive of this new venture, and we look forward to a long and beneficial relationship.”
This project is Georgia-Pacific's latest venture in Alabama, where it already boasts seven facilities with more than 2,300 workers. In the past five years alone, the company has spent more than $1.1 billion in the state through acquisitions and capital, not to mention the $50 million upgrades to a mill in Brewton, Ala., it announced earlier this year, Alabama Newscenter reported.
“Georgia-Pacific's new investment in Talladega will bring good jobs and enhanced opportunities to the area's citizens while also benefiting timber owners in the region,” Gov. Kay Ivey said.
“I am committed to working closely with businesses like Georgia-Pacific, which has a significant presence in the state, as we demonstrate to the world that Alabama is open for business and eager to form strong partnerships.”
Construction of the new facility will mean jobs for 120 workers each day during the project's busiest time. What's more, the University of Alabama has estimated that the project will have a $26 million-plus impact on the city and county throughout the construction period, Alabama Newscenter reported.
