Two Rivers Lumber to Build Modern, $115M Sawmill in Rural Coosa County, Ala.

Wed April 17, 2024
Made in Alabama

Demopolis, Ala.-based Two Rivers Lumber Co. LLC has announced plans to invest $115 million in building a modern sawmill in Coosa County, the company's second operation in Alabama.

In addition, Two Rivers Lumber has committed to creating 130 jobs at the new sawmill, which will specialize in the production of Southern Yellow Pine dimensional lumber.

"This growth project will have a significant impact on Coosa County and cast many economic ripples throughout the region," said Gov. Kay Ivey. "Alabama's forest products industry is a national powerhouse, and it's great to see Two Rivers Lumber continue to grow in its home state."

The company was established by the McElroy family, owners of McElroy Truck Lines in Cuba, Ala., and Roy Geiger, the owner of Sumter Timber in the town of Jefferson, according to Made in Alabama, the news site for the state's Department of Commerce.

Two Rivers opened its first sawmill in Marengo County in 2017. Today, the facility near Demopolis has an annual capacity of 200 million board ft. and 145 full-time employees.

"We are happy to be expanding Two Rivers in the state of Alabama and in Coosa County," Jay McElroy said in a statement. "We spent over a year searching for a site and planning the project, [and] we look forward to starting up the new operation in August 2025.

"The local and state support has been great throughout this process," he added.

Peak North America, located in Irvington, Ala., is leading the construction of the planned Two Rivers facility in the community of Kellyton, northeast of Montgomery, set to begin in June.

"Our team has a longstanding relationship with the team at Two Rivers, based on trust, integrity, and a shared commitment to a thriving forest industry," Peak North America CEO Leif Norrgard said. "We look forward to working together on this innovative project."

Sawmill Likely to Have ‘Profound and Far-Reaching' Impact

Before choosing the Coosa County site, the company also considered Mississippi as a potential location for the sawmill.

Two Rivers' jobs creation effort will be accomplished over a one-year period, with the positions paying an average annual salary of just over $51,000, according to data from Made in Alabama.

"This investment from Two Rivers Lumber will generate a significant number of well-paying jobs while also driving economic growth in the Coosa County area," noted Ellen McNair, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. "For local residents, this means new opportunities and a brighter future for their communities."

To support the project, the Lake Martin Area Industrial Development Authority (AIDT) is donating 110 acres of land, valued at $2.2 million.

Denise Walls, executive director of the Lake Martin Area Economic Development Alliance, said Two Rivers is a perfect fit for the Lake Martin Regional Industrial Park, which is a partnership between nearby Alexander City and the county.

"I appreciate the support that the Coosa County Commission and Alexander City Mayor Woody Baird and his team have shown me throughout this almost 10-month recruiting process," she explained. "We all felt like this was a project worth fighting for, and we are excited that Two Rivers will make Coosa County its new home. The local impact of this project will be profound and far-reaching."

The high level of support from the state and its partners demonstrates the governor's commitment to facilitating job growth in rural Alabama, added Brenda Tuck, the rural development manager of the state's Department of Commerce.

"In collaboration with our allies across the state, we're working hard to realize our goal of fully unlocking the growth potential of rural Alabama," she told Made in Alabama. "It's clear to me that opportunities are flourishing in the state's rural communities, and the business world is beginning to take full advantage of the possibilities."