Edwards Wood Products, based in Marshville, N.C., will open a new sawmill in Scotland County, creating 46 new jobs over the next three years.
Salaries for the new jobs will vary by position but will average $42,391. The average wage in Scotland County is $34,037.
Edwards Wood Products is one of the largest producers of wood pallets, high grade lumber, wood chips, crane and bridge mats and byproducts in the Southeast U.S. To increase production capacity and expand its markets, the company will invest $30 million in the Scotland County sawmill over three years, and is planning another $20 million investment in a second phase.
“Edwards Wood Products has grown significantly over the past several years, and this expansion is key to their continued success,” said state Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland.
Carroll Edwards founded Edwards Wood Products in Marshville in 1969. Today his son, Jeff Edwards, owns and leads what is now a group of six companies. The company currently has North Carolina locations in Marshville, Peachland, Laurinburg and Liberty, and a facility in Manning, S.C.
The state Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) were instrumental in supporting the company’s expansion decision. “Scotland County is well-suited for this project, and the partnership we had between the county, community college, the Department of Transportation and N.C. Railroad was key to making this happen,” Copeland said.
“We are excited to expand our operations in Scotland County,” said Jeff Edwards, president of Edwards Wood Products. “We have partnered with Scotland County and the city of Laurinburg since our initial investment there in 1990 and look forward to expanding that relationship with this new facility. Thank you to Governor (Roy) Cooper, Senators Tommy Tucker and Tom McInnis, as well as all the state and local officials for supporting this project and helping to bring it to reality.”
A performance-based grant of $150,000 from the One North Carolina Fund will help support the construction of the new Scotland County sawmill. The One N.C. Fund provides financial assistance to local governments to help attract economic investment and to create jobs. Companies receive no money upfront and must meet job creation and capital investment targets to qualify for payment. All One NC grants require a matching grant from local governments.
Business Recruitment Manager Ryan Nance of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina supported this project, in partnership with the state Department of Commerce, state General Assembly, the North Carolina Community College System, North Carolina Railroad Company, Scotland County and the Scotland County Economic Development Corporation.