Great Southern Wood making big Alabama investment

Great Southern Wood has big plans in Alabama.

The supplier of pressure treated lumber and the parent company of the Yellawood brand said it will invest $13.7 million in an expansion project at its treatment facility in Mobile County, Ala.

According to the Mobile Chamber of Commerce, the move will create 12 jobs while retaining 78 current positions.

“We have a very strong leadership team and workforce in Mobile, and this expansion makes a strong statement about our ongoing commitment to our team, the Mobile community and the residential, construction and industrial markets we serve from this facility,” said Jimmy Rane, Great Southern’s founder, president and CEO.

Once completed, the project will improve the facility’s traffic flow, storage, and ability to process imports and exports through the Port of Mobile.

“We couldn’t be more excited about this expansion — not only what it means for our company, but what it means for Mobile and the Gulf Coast region as well,” Rane noted.

Great Southern Wood produces and distributes appearance-grade, pressure-treated lumber marketed for decks, fences, and landscaping projects under YellaWood and other brands.

The expansion builds on the Mobile area’s growing logistics and distribution network.

“It’s all about being more efficient when getting products to suppliers,” said Mobile Chamber President and CEO Bradley Byrne. “This is not only an investment into the Great Southern Wood facility, but an investment into the growth and expansion of the port.”

The company plans to break ground on the expansion project in January 2023 and anticipates completing the project by the end of February 2024.