Lumber company invests $7.4M to reopen Henry County sawmill
Rubber and Wood | 2026-09-11 00:32:58
The investment entails Twain Lumber Company purchasing new production machinery and equipment upgrades which the governor’s office said will enable the sawmill “to increase initial operational capacity from 80 million board feet annually to 108 million board feet at full capacity.
By Paul Ploumis
SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Twain Lumber Company will invest $7.4 Million to purchase and reopen the former Teal Jones Sawmill in Henry County, where it’ll buy $51.2 million in Commonwealth forest products over the next three years, Governor Abigail Spanberger announced Thursday.
Once it opens, the facility is expected to create 74 jobs, the governor’s office said.
“This investment is a huge win for Henry County and our entire Commonwealth,” said Governor Abigail Spanberger.
“Since 2024, this facility has sat empty, representing an untapped opportunity to grow our forestry industry and create new opportunities for Virginians in the region. Today, I am proud to welcome Twain Lumber Company to Henry County and thank them for the significant commitment they’re making to our Commonwealth.”
Gov. Spanberger continued, “This investment continues my focus on driving economic development, creating new jobs, and growing our economy. I look forward to continuing to support the hardworking men and women who help this industry succeed.”
The investment entails Twain Lumber Company purchasing new production machinery and equipment upgrades which the governor’s office said will enable the sawmill “to increase initial operational capacity from 80 million board feet annually to 108 million board feet at full capacity.” The capacity expansion will make it one of the largest Southern Yellow Pine sawmills in the Commonwealth.
Since signing the bipartisan legislation creating the state’s first-ever Farm & Forest Prosperity Plan, the law instructs the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry to make and install a comprehensive roadmap that’ll focus on empowering agriculture and forestry’s number one and number three private industries, according to the Office of the Governor.
In April 2026, Gov. Spanberger created the Virginia Wood Council through Executive Directive 2, which the Office of the Governor said would entail the council to rebuild markets for forest products and improve the sector.
“Headquartered in Antlers, Oklahoma, Twain Lumber Company is committed to sustainability through responsible forestry practices, high log yield efficiency, and long-term environmental stewardship,” Spanberger’s Office said.
“Twain Lumber Company specializes in the production of high-quality dimensional Southern Yellow Pine lumber, which is one of the most trusted and versatile materials in modern construction. Native to the region, Southern Yellow Pine is valued for its exceptional strength, reliability, and adaptability across a range of applications.”
Gov. Spanberger’s Office also said the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission worked with the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation to confirm the project for the Commonwealth.
$150,000 was approved by the governor via the Tobacco Region Incentive for Agribusiness Development Grant, both of which help projects source the state’s own grown agriculture and forestry products. A grant worth $59,200 from the Virginia Jobs Investment Program also helped to support training for the workforce, according to the office.