Erie County Times

A Tennessee-based lumber company has chosen to bring its business to Pennsylvania with the purchase of a facility intended for manufacturing in Clarion that will create 100 new jobs in Clarion County.

Gov. Tom Wolf announced on May 4 that Lewis Lumber and Milling, Inc.-which produces unfinished hardwood wide plank flooring, cabinet molding sand components- has bought a vacant building that was formerly a Sealy mattress plant located at 16289 Route 322 in Clarion. The investment amounting to $15.2 million over the next three years will go toward renovating the facility, new construction and buying machinery and equipment. Wolf was happy that the company chose Pennsylvania to be the home of its second facility.

“Our prime northeast location will allow the company to distribute their product easily, and our dedicated and skilled workforce will provide them with top-notch employees,” Wolf said. “This is a great move for the company and for the commonwealth.”

Lewis Lumber and Milling received a funding proposal from the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for a Pennsylvania First grant worth $340,000, a $200,000 workforce development grant for training workers, a $2 million Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) loan and was also encouraged to apply for the Manufacturing Tax Credit (MTC) program. 

“Pennsylvania’s hardwoods and forestry industry is known for its quality and sustainability, which made selecting Clarion County as the home of our new manufacturing facility an easy choice,” said Lewis Lumber Chief Operating Officer Tom Edwards. “Pennsylvania also provides a completely different species and population of trees – northern red oaks, white oak, and white hard maple – that we need for our product lines. We look forward to a successful future in the commonwealth.”

The Governor’s Action Team (GAT) led the coordination of the project. Since Wolf took office, GAT has invested more than $17.3 billion over seven years. This supports 413 completed projects while creating more than 46,250 new jobs and retaining 140,500 more.

“This is the highest capital investment of a Governor’s Action Team project in Clarion County in the last seven years, and DCED is proud to have had a hand in bringing the company to Pennsylvania,” said Neil Weaver, DCED Acting Secretary. “Lewis Lumber will create a significant number of jobs in the region and breathe new life into a formerly vacant building – a win for the community, the company, and the commonwealth.”

Also involved in the project was the Clarion County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) and Executive Director Jarred Heuer had high praise, saying this is a bright sign for the manufacturing and lumber industry in the northwest part of the state.

“Lewis Lumber is a people-oriented business, which should do very well toward building our local economy and empowering our community,” Heuer said. “The CCEDC is very excited to welcome them to Clarion County.”