Sustainable prospects.
Unlimited growth potential.
Alabama is a forestry powerhouse with over 23 million acres of forestland, covering 69% of the state’s land mass. This abundant resource, coupled with a favorable climate for tree growth and a strategic Southeast location, makes it a major player in the forestry industry, leading to major investments in the state by prominent industry leaders like Georgia Pacific and Weyerhaeuser.
$3.6B
total annual economic impact
Top 10
producer of pulp/paper,
lumber, wood panels
124k
industry employment
$12.5
annual manufactured products
Solid economic contributions
The forestry industry’s scope is massive in Alabama, with its total annual economic impact calculated at $36 billion. The state is home to over 110 manufacturing facilities including sawmills, paper mills and other production sites. The industry’s average annual investment in Alabama has been pegged at $840 million, with almost $160 million headed to the state’s rural regions in 2024 alone.
Growth runs through rural Alabama.
Sierra Pacific Windows looked to rural Alabama with a major growth initiative. The California-based firm is investing $60 million to develop a new manufacturing campus in Phenix City, where it will create 300 jobs, with plans for more. The 610,000-square-foot facility will significantly expand Sierra Pacific’s manufacturing capacity, enabling the company to meet rising demand for its premium products used in both residential and commercial projects.
Next-generation building materials from Alabama.
SmartLam is an innovator in the mass timber industry, and its operations in Alabama play a major role for the company. SmartLam is the largest North American producer of cross-laminated timber, or CLT, with one of its two factories located in Dothan. It’s also investing $62 million at the Alabama site to build a new glulam manufacturing facility that will produce large beams and columns for the construction industry.
Investment projects capitalize on forestry potential.
Two Rivers Lumber Co. LLC is doubling down on Alabama. The company is investing $115 million to build a state-of-the-art sawmill in Coosa County as its second operation in the state. The company, which specializes in Southern Yellow Pine dimensional lumber, opened its first sawmill in Marengo County in 2017 with a $65 million investment.
Latest Rural News
Rural, Forestry Products
Alabama’s $36 billion forestry industry powers rural growth and innovation
Alabama’s forestry industry is a vital economic engine, particularly for the state’s rural areas. By generating billions in economic activity, creating thousands of jobs and promoting sustainable practices, the industry not only supports local economies but also positions Alabama as a leader in forestry and natural resource management on a national and global scale.
January 21, 2025
Rural, Forestry Products
Sierra Pacific marks opening of new manufacturing facility in Phenix City
October 22, 2024
Rural, Forestry Products
Two Rivers Lumber plans $115 million sawmill project in Coosa County
April 11, 2024
More Rural Sectors
