Ten Oaks, LLC, a manufacturer of high-quality residential hardwood floors, will invest nearly $9.3 million in Patrick County to construct a state-of-the-art hardwood sorting and stacking facility.
The new mill will enable the company to strengthen its supply chain, optimize yield on raw materials, and improve production quality and efficiencies, all while creating a major new market for Virginia’s hardwood sawmills, Gov. Ralph Northam said in a release. The project will create 11 high-paying jobs and lead to the purchase of more than $18 million of Virginia grown forest products over the next three years.
In Stuart for the announcement, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Bettina K. Ring said the company will “construct a 20,000 square-foot state of the art hardwood sorting and stacking facility to support its manufacturing operations just a few miles from here.”
Ring said the new facility also will increase the company’s purchase of Virginia-grown lumber by nearly 18.3 million over the next three years.
She added that the expansion is an example of how local and state governments can work together. “How we can use the tremendous forest resources that we have here in the Commonwealth and make sure that we’re continuing to keep our industries strong,” she said.
Ten Oaks also is an example of the entrepreneurial spirit that exists in rural Virginia and across the Commonwealth, she said. “We see it day in and day out, and I applaud everyone for being a part of this.”
Ring said Gov. Ralph Northam approved a $40,000 grant from the state’s Agriculture & Forestry Industries Development (AFID) Fund to support this partnership and help the county with the project.
“Ten Oaks’ expansion and continued investment is a reflection of Virginia’s thriving forestry industry,” said Northam. “I am grateful to Ten Oaks for their commitment to providing new economic opportunities and valuable high-paying jobs to Patrick County.”
The expansion is in addition to the $12.8 investment Prolam, LLC, the Canadian-based parent company, made in June to establish its first U.S. manufacturing operation in the county. That expansion added 59 new jobs.
Established in 2004 in Stuart, Ten Oaks built its reputation on its steadfast commitment to quality. In 2019, the company was acquired by Canadian-based Boa-Franc, a leading manufacturer of residential prefinished hardwood flooring, which is committed to growing its U.S.-based manufacturing operations. The new Ten Oaks facility is located less than five miles away from its manufacturing center and headquarters. Lumber will be used in the production of residential hardwood flooring at Ten Oaks, as well as commercial truck hardwood flooring for Prolam, a Canadian-based truck and trailer flooring manufacturer located next to the new Ten Oaks facility. Northam announced in June that Prolam would locate its first U.S. production operation in Patrick County.
Pierre “J.P.” Thabet, president of Ten Oaks and owner of Prolam, said “we are convinced that this project will have a positive impact for Patrick County’s community This will help to accelerate the growth by developing new innovations and secure the wellbeing of the region. We are confident that it will be a success over time.”
He said the company focuses on three primary areas: Customers, employees, and the culture.
“We came here because we are a great culture fit with Ten Oaks, and we wanted to expand into the United States” where there is a large amount of lumber and customers, he said.
“For us, it was all part of the plan, but it’s been delayed because of the COVID that was here on March 9 when the United States announced that all flights were blocked from Europe,” he said.
He also thanked the Williams and Burkett families for their management of the Ten Oaks’ facilities.
“Without them we wouldn’t be here,” he said of the two families.
