Rock Wood Products to expand sawmill operation

Rock Wood Products announced Thursday it is spending $8.75 million to expand its sawmill operation in Buckingham County.

The company will create 12 jobs and source 100 percent of its timber from Virginia landowners.

“Virginia’s forestry industry supports thousands of quality jobs in our rural communities and provides important market opportunities for the commonwealth’s private forestland owners,” Gov. Terry McAuliffe said in a statement.

Rock Wood Products of Dillwyn Inc. was formed in 2014 by parent company John Rock Inc., one of the largest pallet manufacturing companies in the United States.

Rock Wood Products will supply John Rock’s manufacturing facility with the lumber it needs for pallet production. The company also supplies materials for construction mats, railroad ties and the flooring. The updated technology at the new facility will allow the company to significantly increase production.

Virginia is partnering with Buckingham County and Rock Wood Products on this project through the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund (AFID), which is administered by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. McAuliffe approved a $150,000 grant from the AFID Fund to assist with the project, which Buckingham County is matching with local funds.