PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY (WSLS10) - A local staple in Pittsylvania County plans to invest millions into the local economy with support from the Commonwealth. Governor Terry McAuliffe's Office announced Wednesday, Gregory Lumber INC. will expand its sawmill operations in the county.
Operating for nearly 30 years, Gregory Lumber is one of the largest sawmills in the region. John Gregory, owner of Gregory Lumber, told us he is investing $3 million in needed construction and equipment that would help increase production by nearly 50%.
Gregory said right now, workers can process 34 lumber logs per minute. But, new equipment is going in. By fall he's expecting that number to rise to 52.
To help with the expansion, Governor McAuliffe approved a $50,000 grant from the Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund which Pittsylvania County is matching. This will help company create three jobs and source 75-percent of its timber locally.
"Then you really do have the ripple effect through the local economy because they're going to be landowners, loggers, truckers...people associated with this are going to benefit from this," said the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore. "So, it's not just about the three jobs."
"Small business carries this country," commented Gregory. "There's not a lot of logging corporates, but hundreds of small ones. I don't think people realize with us having 40-plus people working that's helping families make car payments, house payments, and get good educations."
With the renovations and ability to work faster, Gregory said in the next two years the company will buy almost $8 million dollars of local timber.
Gregory added he hopes all of the construction and upgrades will be finished by fall.