Resource Fiber, which researches and develops products using bamboo, will invest $4.6 million in its first full-scale production plant in Alabama.
The Lamar County facility will produce bamboo products such as bamboo nail laminated timbers used in construction.
“Resource Fiber’s decision to locate its production facility in Sulligent is great news for the city and for Alabama,” Gov. Kay Ivey said at an announcement for the new plant on Monday. “This positions our state at the forefront in the commercialization of innovative bamboo products while creating good jobs in Lamar County.”
Founded in 2011, Resource Fiber operates the nation’s largest commercial-scale bamboo nursery in Greene County and has been looking to locate its production facility nearby, CEO David Knight said.
“We are grateful to have found the right facility and are honored to be a part of the Sulligent community,” he said. “We also want to thank the Northwest Alabama Economic Development Alliance for the support and assistance they provided in our site-selection process.”
Resource Fiber plans to begin hiring and launch manufacturing in the new facility in the second quarter of 2021. The new plant is expected to create 111 jobs.