Wood veneer facility to reopen in West Point

A former manufacturing facility in West Point will come roaring back to life with a $2.5 million investment by West Point Veneer, a wholly owned subsidiary of Coldwater Veneer, that will create 92 jobs, Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s office announced Tuesday.

Once open, the mill will produce wood veneer and ship it globally via the Port of Virginia. The mill is located at 320 Dupont St. in West Point.

“We are very pleased to announce the re-opening of our hardwood veneer mill since it was closed in December of 2017,” Dean Calhoun, CEO of Coldwater Veneer, said in a statement.

Coldwater, Michigan-based Coldwater Veneer’s customers include dealers and manufacturers of wood veneer faces, panels, doors, furniture, cabinets, store fixtures and other applications.

The investment in the reactivated facility will increase capacity to meet growing demand in the global wood veneer market, according to a news release. The new jobs will include administrative positions, material handlers and marine operators.

Calhoun originally purchased the mill from its prior owner in 1997 and at its peak, it had 125 employees. Then, in 2017, Calhoun sold it, and the new owner closed it, according to Allen Frydenberg, chief financial officer of Coldwater Veneer. He later repurchased it.

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the Town of West Point to secure the project and will provide support through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program. Coldwater Veneer will also receive benefits from the Port of Virginia Economic and Infrastructure Development Grant Program.