Wood Product Manufacturing
Target Industry: Wood Product Manufacturing
The Lake Martin Area currently has a concentrated and growing workforce in the wood products industry. In addition, wood products companies currently located in Lake Martin have seen momentum in recent years.
Based on Next Move Group’s research into the region’s industry supply chain, workforce, location advantages, and workforce training options, companies in this sector could have opportunities in the Lake Martin Region.
Opportunity – Wood Products Manufacturing
We have identified the following sampling of sub-industries as having opportunities in the Lake Martin Area:
- Upholstered Household Furniture Manufacturing:
148% growth in employment in the Lake Martin area over the last 5 years - Softwood Veneer and Plywood Manufacturing:
58% growth in employment in the Lake Martin area over the last 5 year - Reconstituted Wood Product Manufacturing:
35% growth in employment in the Lake Martin area over the last 5 years - Non-upholstered Wood Household Furniture Manufacturing:
33% growth in employment in the Lake Martin area over the last 5 years - Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing:
30% growth in employment in the Lake Martin area over the last 5 years - Other Paperboard Container Manufacturing:
16% growth in employment in the Lake Martin area over the last 5 years
Wood Manufacturing Facilities in the Lake Martin Area
Based on both a supply chain analysis conducted by Next Move Group, the Lake Martin area has considerable advantages in the following wood manufacturing-related industries:
- Upholstered Household Furniture Manufacturing:
148% growth in employment in the Lake Martin area over the last 5 years - Softwood Veneer and Plywood Manufacturing:
58% growth in employment in the Lake Martin area over the last 5 years - Reconstituted Wood Product Manufacturing:
35% growth in employment in the Lake Martin area over the last 5 years - Non-upholstered Wood Household Furniture Manufacturing:
33% growth in employment in the Lake Martin area over the last 5 years - Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing:
30% growth in employment in the Lake Martin area over the last 5 years - Other Paperboard Container Manufacturing:
16% growth in employment in the Lake Martin area over the last 5 years - Prefabricated Wood Building Manufacturing:
14% growth in employment in the Lake Martin area over the last 5 years - Engineered Wood Member (except Truss) Manufacturing:
13% growth in employment in the Lake Martin area over the last 5 years - Wood Window and Door Manufacturing:
13% growth in employment in the Lake Martin area over the last 5 years - Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing:
7% growth in employment in the Lake Martin area over the last 5 years - Sawmill, Woodworking, and Paper Machinery Manufacturing:
Average salary of $75,504 in the Lake Martin area - Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing:
5% growth in employment in the Lake Martin area over the last 5 years
In our research of the surrounding region’s supply chain, the Lake Martin area benefits significantly from Wood manufacturing industries, showing that the region had advantages to target this industry.
- Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing:
58 suppliers within the Lake Martin region - Wood Kitchen Cabinet and Countertop Manufacturing:
2,984 suppliers within the region
Recent Momentum:
Recent $18 Million Sawmill Expansion

Coosa County, Al (WSFA) - Deep in the woods of Coosa County, lots of wood is being carved up, picked up and splintered. You think it's busy now? Wait until this time next year; a high tech sawmill will be added thanks to an $18 million expansion by Central Alabama Wood Products.
"I think this is fantastic," said Larry Jones, one of the co-owners of the company. Jones says the railroad industry was one of the driving forces behind their decision to expand.
"Average age of a cross tie lasts about 30 years, so it's the replacement cycle is what goes on," said Jones. "There are 20 million cross ties replaced every year."
There is an odd part to this expansion. There won't be any new direct jobs created. However economic leaders say an arrangement like this is not unusual.
"We'll stay pretty much stagnant," Jones said. But that's not the same as saying there won't be an impact. In fact, Jones estimates 40 new "indirect" positions will be added to the mix.
"Indirectly, we'll be adding truckers, more logging companies," Jones stated.
Once the new sawmill is built, the plant will double its capacity.
"We'll do it on a lot bigger scale," Jones said.
"It's not replacing jobs. It's refining the positions those people have, it's a lot of technology coming in." said Don McClellan, Executive Director of the Lake Martin Area Economic alliance. "A sawmill is not a sawmill anymore. It's a high tech industry."
High tech or not, it's still a heavy lift. A behemouth of a machine, for example, picked up 30,000 pounds of logs, worth its weight in gold when you factor in the comnpany's long term committment to Coosa County.
Copyright 2018 WSFA 12 News. All rights reserved.
Dadeville Pole Company plans to construct a new facility

Current Wood Manufacturing Support Companies

Wood Manufacturing and Support Companies in the Lake Martin Area
IndusTREE Pole | Wood products manufacturer |
Central Alabama Wood Products | Wood products manufacturer |
Wellborn Industries | Wood manufacturer |
Wellborn Forest Products | Cabinet manufacturer |
Proximity to Major Markets

The Lake Martin area is within proximity to multiple major markets, including:
- Atlanta, GA
- Miami and Tampa, FL
- New Orleans, LA
- Austin, Houston, and Dallas, TX
- Chicago, IL
- St. Louis, MO
- Charlotte, NC
- Detroit, MI
- Washington D.C.

When It Comes to Activities at Lake Martin, There’s More Than Just Boating!

Workforce
Wages
The table below outlines the average salary range for the targeted subindustries, showing that the region and its residents can highly benefit from increasing opportunities in these areas.
Subindustries |
Wages |
Upholstered Household Furniture Manufacturing |
$49,460 |
Softwood Veneer and Plywood Manufacturing |
$47,683 |
Prefabricated Wood Building Manufacturing |
$46,060 |
Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing |
$41,008 |
Engineered Wood Member (except Truss) Manufacturing |
$37,410 |
Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
$35,705 |
Hardwood Veneer and Plywood Manufacturing |
$35,651 |
Wood Kitchen Cabinet and Countertop Manufacturing |
$31,516 |
Labor Availability

11,121 People Drive Outside of the Lake Martin Area for Work, Every Day
This map shows that 4,893 people travel to Lake Martin area daily for work, proving that a good employer can draw labor from a wide radius. Additionally, this map shows that 11,121 people drive from the Lake Martin area to work in other regions, daily. Many of these 11,121 workers will consider working in the Lake Martin area, as more jobs are created.

In the region surrounding and including the Lake Martin area, manufacturing is the largest sector, employing 34,532 workers. Additionally, the sector has the second largest concentration in the area in comparison to the national average, with an average salary of $52,973.

Workforce Training Programs
Alabama Technology Network (ATN)

Offers primarily manufacturing workforce development courses.
AIDT

State-level workforce training program that provides free training for area businesses:
- Pre-employment screening and training
- Leadership development
- Industrial safety program
- Industrial maintenance technician assessment program
Ready to Work (RTW)

Operated by the Alabama Community College System in cooperation with AIDT, RTW provides a career pathway for individuals with limited educational and employment experience. Training mirrors the needs of Alabama’s industries and businesses and is free to participants.
Edward Bell Career Center
Provides the students in Tallapoosa County with training for high-skill, high-demand occupations that mirror local business and industry needs.
Colleges & Universities

Central Alabama Community College (CACC)
Provides academic and technical degree programs for high-paying industries, including wood industry-specific workforce training programs such as:
- Associates in Science
- Forestry Career Path
- Agricultural Business Career Path
- Engineering Career Path
- Associates in Occupational Technology
- Machine Shop
- Welding

Auburn University
Auburn University is just 30 minutes from the Lake Martin area and is home to one of the nation’s top 20 engineering programs, by the number of program graduates. The University has been ranked #1 multiple times for being one of the best in terms of value and offerings. Auburn’s School of Forestry & Wildlife Sciences is currently celebrating its 75th anniversary. The school offers degrees in the following focal areas, that are relevant to the wood industry:
- Forestry
- Geospatial and Environmental Information
- Natural Resources Management
- Sustainable Biomaterials and Packaging
- Wildlife Sciences


Troy University
Troy University is located 2 hours from the Lake Martin area. For 15 consecutive years, Troy University has been named to The Princeton Review’s “Best in the Southeast” list. The University has multiple locations throughout the state, programs for international students, and dual enrollment for high school students, and international support programs. Troy has two programs that apply to the manufacturing sector:
- Environmental and Biological Sciences
- Environmental Science

Alabama State University
One of the nation’s oldest HBCUs, located in Montgomery, approximately 1.5 hours from the Lake Martin area. The University offers both in-person and online delivery formats for a variety of programs, ranging from business administration to technology engineering and mathematics.
Transportation Infrastructure
The Lake Martin Area is connected to Birmingham via Highway 280 and Interstates 65 and 85. The region is also directly connected to Montgomery by way of Highway 231. Additionally, both Auburn, Alabama and Columbus, Georgia are 1-2 hours away, via Highway 280. The Lake Martin area is connected to Mississippi by Interstate 20, Tennessee by way of Interstate 65, and to both Georgia and Florida by Interstate 75, making the region a prime location to do business.
US Highways

- Tallapoosa County is approximately 6 miles from HWY 280, and 30 miles from HWY 231
- Coosa County is approximately 14 miles from both HWY 231, and HWY 280
Interstates

- Tallapoosa County is 26 miles from I-85, 53 miles from I-20
- Coosa County is approximately 22 miles from I-65, 52 miles from I-85, and 45 miles from I-20
Rail

Norfolk Southern
- One of the nation’s premier transportation companies
- Operating in 22 states and the District of Columbia
- Largest carrier of metals and automotive products in North America
- Serving every major container port in the eastern US
Utilities
Gas

City of Dadeville
Located within Tallapoosa County, just an hour northeast of Montgomery.
Water

Goodwater Water & Sewer Board
City of Dadeville
Located within Tallapoosa County, just an hour northeast of Montgomery
Power

Alabama Power
Owns or operates 77 electric generating units with total nameplate capacity of more than 12 million kilowatts, offering a variety of power options throughout the state.
Featured Real Estate

- Russell Former Screenprint Building
- 177,766 sq ft, 14.1 acres
- Industrial building
- Kwang Sung America
- 40,000 sq ft, 7 acres
- Industrial building
- Lake Martin Regional Industrial Park
- 327 acres
- Industrial site
- 295 Acres
- 2450 Hillabee Road
- Industrial site
- William Thweatt Industrial Park
- 150 acres
- Industrial site
- New Site Building
- 5.19 acres
- Industrial building


Incentives
Opportunity Zone Tax Incentive
Tax Incentive Reform Act Ad Valorem Tax Abatement
Corporate Income Tax
Business Privilege Tax
State Unemployment Tax
Sales and Use Tax
Property Tax
Current Use Exemption
Enterprise Zone Tax Program
Favored Geographic Areas Program
Income Tax Capital Credit
Workforce Grant Opportunities
Incumbent Worker Training Grant (IWTP)
Existing Industry Training Program (EITP)
Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC)
On the Job Training (OJT)