Timber exporter building $1.1M facility in Suffolk

Kristi Corp. a global supplier of industrial raw materials for aluminum and steel metallurgical industries, will build a $1.1 million log load and fumigation facility in Suffolk, creating 10 jobs, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday.

The company will source 100% of its exports from Virginia logging companies. Virginia competed with North Carolina and Pennsylvania for the project, which will be located at 1326 Portsmouth Boulevard.

“Once again, the world-class Port of Virginia and our skilled workforce enabled our commonwealth to successfully compete for this new lumber exporting facility,” Northam said in a statement. “This project will benefit both the local economy and our forestry industry, and we look forward to partnering with Kristi Corporation as it grows in Suffolk.”

Headquartered in New Jersey, Kristi Corp. was founded in 2005 and has branches in Canada and India. The company exports logs, lumber and biomass materials from North America across the globe.

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the City of Suffolk, the Virginia Department of Forestry and The Port of Virginia to secure the project for Virginia. VEDP’s Virginia Jobs Investment Program will assist Kristi Corp. with its employee recruitment and training.