Traeger Grills plans $3M facility in Wythe County

Traeger Grills, manufacturer of the world’s top-selling wood pellet grill and signature hardwood pellets product, plans to build a $3 million manufacturing operation in Wythe County, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Wednesday. The company plans to purchase wood products exclusively sourced from Virginia and create 15 jobs in Wythe, the governor’s office said.

Salt Lake City, Utah-headquartered Traeger Grills will partner with Musser Lumber Co. Inc., which produces materials for wood pellet producers, decking manufacturers and plastic extrusion companies. Last August, Musser announced it would invest $2.4 million to expand its Wythe County operations, creating 12 jobs. Musser will provide Traeger with dried wood residual products to create flavored grill pellets for different types of cooking. At full production, the governor’s office says Traeger expects to purchase several million pounds of hardwood products each month, creating a strong market for the state’s sawmills and forest owners.

“Thanks to companies like Traeger Grills, forestry contributes $21 billion to our economy each year and supports thousands of quality jobs across our commonwealth,” Northam said in a statement. “Our administration remains focused on supporting our diverse hardwood forests, ensuring they continue to provide a sustainable and natural raw material for manufacturers. We thank Traeger Grills for their commitment to this shared goal and the economic impact they will have on Southwest Virginia and the commonwealth.”

The state is partnering with Wythe County and the Joint Industrial Development Authority of Wythe County, Wytheville and Rural Retreat on this project through the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) Fund, which is administered by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS). Northam approved a $75,000 grant from the AFID Fund to secure the project for Virginia, which Wythe County will match with local funds.

“Traeger’s collaboration and co-location with Musser Lumber is a perfect example of how we can find creative ways to add value to Virginia’s forest products,” Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Bettina Ring said in a statement. “I am pleased that we could partner with Wythe County to welcome Traeger Grills into our thriving forest products community and look forward to many years of working together to support this essential industry.”