Weyerhaeuser Company, one of the world’s largest private owners of timberlands, has broken ground on its new TimberStrand® facility near Monticello and Warren, Arkansas. The company is investing an estimated $500 million in the facility, which is expected to create 200 high-quality jobs in the region once fully operational.
Company executives joined state and local officials for a groundbreaking ceremony at the project site in south Arkansas on June 18. During the ceremony, officials highlighted the importance of the forest products industry to the state and the positive economic impact the facility will have on south Arkansas.
“We primarily do business in small rural locations all across the U.S. and that dynamic that we have with those local communities is one of the reasons why we're still in business. Frankly, it's one of the things that makes this company special, and that couldn't be more true with our operations here in Arkansas,” said Devin W. Stockfish, Weyerhaeuser president and chief executive officer.
“We've been in Arkansas since the mid 1950s. This is a great, great place to do business at the state level. At the local level, we've really just had wonderful engagement across the board all the way from the Governor's Office, the local community, state legislature, federal. Everyone has really bent over backwards to help us get this facility here. And I can tell you the reason we're sitting here today in Monticello, Arkansas, and not somewhere else is because of that support and that engagement that we've had from our friends in the legislature, the economic development team, the Governor's Office. They've all made us feel very welcome. And so we just couldn't be more excited.”
The facility will produce TimberStrand®, a laminated strand lumber that is engineered for consistent strength and straightness and used in a range of building applications for single- and multi-family wood frame construction. The new facility is expected to add approximately 10 million cubic feet of annual production capacity and help Weyerhaeuser meet growing demand for TimberStrand® and better serve its customers across the U.S. South. Weyerhaeuser plans to source fiber logs from company-owned timberlands in south Arkansas and surrounding regions.
“Arkansas is competing where we know we can win, like in the timber industry, which is why we’ve made big investments in skills-based education, including at the new Forest Research Center at the University of Arkansas – Monticello,” said Governor Sanders. “Major companies like Weyerhaeuser are paying attention and we are grateful for their investment in South Arkansas.”
The Monticello/Warren facility will be Weyerhaeuser’s fourth manufacturing facility in Arkansas. Weyerhaeuser currently operates a lumber mill in Dierks, a plywood and veneer plant in Emerson, and a seedling nursery in Magnolia. In addition, the company maintains four Timberlands offices in Arkansas, including its main Southern Timberlands office in Hot Springs, and owns or manages 1.2 million acres of timberlands in the state.
“In south Arkansas, our timber industry is growing thanks to investments like Weyerhaeuser’s $500 million investment in Monticello and Warren,” said Clint O’Neal, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. “This groundbreaking is an important milestone for Weyerhaeuser and for the local communities, moving them closer to production and the creation of good-paying jobs for Arkansans. Congratulations – and we look forward to continued success from Weyerhaeuser in our state.”
Weyerhaeuser announced plans for the new facility in November 2024 with the goal of starting operations in 2027.
“I am grateful to Weyerhaeuser for their investment in our state, and today’s groundbreaking is further proof of their commitment to South Arkansas,” said Arkansas State Senator Ben Gilmore. “Governor Sanders, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, and the Arkansas General Assembly have worked hard to foster an environment for strong economic growth, and I am excited for what the future holds under this leadership. I am grateful for the tireless effort of all the local stakeholders who make projects like this happen, and this is a testament to years of hard work, sound economic policy, a hardworking workforce, and a thriving fiber resource.”
“Weyerhaeuser is an industry leader in the timber industry, and we are excited to have an employer of their caliber in southeast Arkansas,” said Arkansas State Representative Jeff Wardlaw. “Today’s groundbreaking marks the next step of Weyerhaeuser’s growth in our region, and I look forward to working with Weyerhaeuser in the future.”
“The City of Monticello greatly appreciates the work of AEDC, along with the support we have received from the Governor’s Office. With our state partners, we are moving Monticello forward,” said Monticello Mayor Jason Akers.
“On behalf of the City of Warren I express our pleasure and excitement regarding this new manufacturing facility. A lot of work has gone into bringing this project to fruition. We look forward to the addition of jobs and economic growth to both cities and counties along with the entire Southeast Arkansas region,” said Warren Mayor Gregg Reep.
“I am so thankful that we have this $500 million investment being made in southeast Arkansas,” said Bradley County Judge Klay McKinney. “This is a game changer for our region, and we welcome Weyerhaeuser as they join our business community.”
“We appreciate all the work that the Southeast Arkansas Regional Intermodal Authority board and our economic develop partners have done to make this project possible,” said Drew County Judge Jessie Griffin. “Drew County welcomes Weyerhaeuser to our community, and we look forward to the creation of new jobs and the families it will impact.”
"This facility is probably the largest investment in Southeast Arkansas in recent history,” said John M. Lipton, President of the Southeast Arkansas Regional Intermodal Facilities Authority. “We are extremely grateful to Weyerhaeuser for the effect this project will have on our area of the state. This is a dream come true for the economy of our region."