Canfor Southern Pine Inc. on Tuesday announced plans to develop a sawmill complex for manufacturing and processing wood products in the Mobile County town of Axis.
The company’s $210 million investment in its state-of-the-art complex, which replaces its current facility in Mobile, is estimated to create around 130 jobs.
In announcing the new facility, Mobile Chamber president and CEO Bradley Byrne praised Canfor Southern Pine as being “an outstanding employer” in the region.
“This expansion reinforces Canfor’s commitment to the Mobile area, this community and their local workforce,” stated Byrne. “We’re grateful they’ve chosen to continue investing in our local economy. Canfor is an outstanding employer with a strong track record as a community partner.”
According to Canfor Southern Pine president Tony Sheffield, the investment in the new facility served as a commitment to extend its longstanding partnership with the area.
“We are excited to be making this investment in a new state-of-the-art sawmill complex that will be built with next generation, innovative technology and transform our workplace to offer employees a modern facility that will operate for generations to come,” said Sheffield. “This investment will allow us to continue our legacy of operations and long-term commitment to Mobile County, enhance our manufacturing ability to better align with the high-quality products our markets demand, and importantly, it’s an investment in our people.”
The new sawmill will produce 250 million board feet per year using leading technology, according to a release. The facility’s design also includes investments in a biomass-fueled lumber drying system to help the company meet sustainability and decarbonization goals.
Connie Hudson, president of the Mobile County Commission, expressed local leadership’s intentions of continuing to partner with the company to spur future growth opportunities.
“The Mobile County Commission is pleased to see Canfor make this significant business investment in north Mobile County,” proclaimed Hudson. “The new sawmill complex will incorporate cutting-edge technology in an industry that has played a very important role historically in our state and local economies. We look forward to their continued growth.”
Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson hailed Canfor Southern Pine’s legacy as being a “great community partner” and expressed the city’s excitement over the company’s investment.
“Canfor’s announced expansion and new state-of-art facility will ensure the company remains a great community partner and local employer for generations to come,” advised Stimpson. “We are proud to have Canfor’s headquarters right here in downtown Mobile and look forward to seeing their continued success as they provide the highest quality of service to the forestry industry in our region.”
Gov. Kay Ivey asserted that the company’s investment proved that Alabama’s robust forestry industry served to make the state an attractive destination for future growth opportunities.
“The expansion of Canfor is a strategic investment in the community, sawmill industry and economy of South Alabama. As one of the most heavily forested states in the nation, Alabama has ample opportunity to attract significant new capital investment in the forest industry, and it’s apparent we’re doing just that,” said the governor. “Mobile – and all of Alabama – has been proud to be the host of Canfor’s U.S. headquarters, and we look forward to seeing their continued, nation-wide success after this highly-anticipated and much-needed facility growth.”
Canfor expects the new facility to be open by the third quarter of 2024, according to the Mobile Chamber.
Dylan Smith is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
