Walker County Sawmill To Undergo $45M Expansion, Adding 60 Jobs

JASPER, Ala. — A $45 million expansion of a Walker County lumber production facility will soon add at least 60 more jobs to the area, following an announcement by Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday. The announcement said the expansion will be possible through a new partnership between Jasper Lumber Co. and Canada’s Tolko Industries Ltd.

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The partnership will reportedly triple capacity at Jasper Lumber’s existing sawmill and create additional activity for its other subsidiary companies. State officials say plans call for the construction of new facilities, the installation of new machinery, and increased shifting at the mill.

Tolko is a family-owned, privately held wood products company based in British Columbia, Canada and will hold a 50% stake in Jasper Forest Products through its U.S. subsidiary. The Canadian firm produces lumber, oriented strand board (OSB), plywood, and pellets.

Jasper Lumber, a major industrial employer in Walker County, is also family-owned and has manufactured lumber for over 30 years.

Jasper Lumber Chief Operating Officer Roy Beall said the partnership and continued growth represents a milestone for the company.

“We are very excited to be partnering with Tolko, who has a proven track record and a long family history in the lumber manufacturing business. Our new partnership with Tolko will allow us to have a larger presence in the industry, and in our local community,” Beall said. “This partnership with Tolko will allow us to create jobs and expand our capacity from our current 70 million board feet to approximately 200 million. We are looking forward to working with Tolko, our valued customers, and the state and local economic development community."

Construction on the Jasper sawmill expansion is set to begin in early 2021.

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