AL: Great Southern Wood Plans $13.7 Million Mobile County Expansion, Creating 12 New Jobs

Great Southern Wood plans to invest $13.7 million in an expansion project at its treatment facility in Mobile County, allowing the company to create 12 jobs and retain 78 current positions, according to the Mobile Chamber.

The project will improve the facility’s traffic flow, storage, and its ability to process imports and exports through the Port of Mobile.

“We have a very strong leadership team and workforce in Mobile, and this expansion makes a strong statement about our ongoing commitment to our team, the Mobile community and the residential, construction and industrial markets we serve from this facility,” said Jimmy Rane, Great Southern’s founder, president and CEO.

“We couldn’t be more excited about this expansion — not only what it means for our company, but what it means for Mobile and the Gulf Coast region as well,” he added.

Great Southern Wood produces and distributes appearance-grade, pressure-treated lumber marketed for decks, fences and landscaping projects under YellaWood and other brands.

The expansion builds on the Mobile area’s growing logistics and distribution network.

“It’s all about being more efficient when getting products to suppliers,” said Mobile Chamber President and CEO Bradley Byrne. “This is not only an investment into the Great Southern Wood facility, but an investment into the growth and expansion of the port.”

Great Southern Wood has been a strong community partner in Irvington since the treatment facility opened in 1976.

“Great Southern Wood’s expansion project will preserve and create jobs at its Mobile facility while also supporting the growth of the region’s distribution and logistics infrastructure,” said Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.

“In addition, the investment reflects the company’s commitment to a community that values it as a long-standing partner.”

The company plans to break ground on the expansion project in January 2023 and anticipates completing the project by the end of February 2024.

Alabama Power has been a strategic partner in this expansion project.

“Great Southern Wood’s expansion in Irvington is an impactful success story for economic development in our state,” said Leigh Davis, vice president of Economic and Community Development at Alabama Power. “We are proud to be one of the partners supporting the continued growth of this company and this industry.”