Companies invest $92M to boost forestry economy in Dothan

In an effort to boost the wiregrass region of southeastern Alabama’s forestry economy, Dothan will soon be home to two new projects totaling $92 million. Read on to learn more. 

About the projects

Behind the two new projects are SmartLam North America and Peak Renewables.

SmartLam North America, a manufacturer of cross-laminated timber (CLT) products is investing $62 million into building a state-of-the-art, 140,000-square-foot glulam manufacturing facility in Dothan.

The project will:

• Allow for the production of large glulam beams and columns that are a requirement to properly serve the mass timber market
• Create 43 jobs

Peak Renewables, another growing company, plans to invest $30 million into building a wood pellet manufacturing facility. The project will:

• Use sawmill tailings to produce pellets for renewable energy
• Span 30 acres and include new rail tracks in partnership with Genessee + Wyoming Railroad
• Create 26 jobs

“The forest products industry has long been a central pillar of Alabama’s economy, and its vitality is attracting significant new investment and fueling job growth across the state. These new investment projects in Dothan will bring additional strength and innovation to this critical sector.”

Greg Canfield, Secretary, Alabama Department of Commerce

What this means for Dothan

According to the Dothan Chamber of Commerce, the combined projects represent one of the largest industrial investments in the history of the wiregrass region of southeastern Alabama. Whoa!

The projects will also require some improvements in Dothan’s infrastructure, including:

• Construction of a new industrial access road, which will serve the new industrial sites via a partnership with the Alabama Department of Transportation, Houston County + the City of Dothan. 
• Improvements to Dothan’s water + electricity supply. 

In a joint statement by Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba and Houston County Chairman-elect Brandon Shupe, the projects are meant to strengthen the region’s forestry sector and create additional jobs.

“We are proud and very grateful for our partnership with SmartLam North America and welcome our new corporate partner Peak Renewables. Both companies represent a significant contribution to the continued establishment and development of Southeast Alabama as a center of excellence for forest product manufacturing and innovation.”

Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba + Houston County Chairman-elect Brandon Shupe in a joint statement

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