The Lumber Manufactory Opens $15 Million Sawmill in New Albany, Creating More Than 50 Jobs
Sawmill operator The Lumber Manufactory has located a sawmill operation in New Albany, the Mississippi Development Authority announced August 12. The project represents a corporate investment of more than $15 million and the creation of more than 50 jobs. The facility, in the Glenfield Industrial Park, is now operational.
TLM constructed the mill to make use of Mississippi's abundant pine sawtimber — a key factor, MDA said, in the company's decision to locate in the state. The New Albany location also creates new opportunities for private landowners to sell their timber.
MDA is providing assistance through the Mississippi Flexible Tax Incentive, or MFLEX, program. AccelerateMS and Union County also are assisting with the project.
TLM was founded in 2023 by a team of executives who, according to the company, helped build and scale companies including Anduril, Blue Origin and Nvidia. The New Albany mill produces Southern Yellow Pine dimensional lumber and is the company's first.
“America has a timber surplus and a lumber manufacturing deficit and our new state-of-the-art mill here creates a tremendous opportunity to build more sawn wood products at home,” said TLM Co-Founder and CEO Michael Grasso. “We are proud to begin that work in Mississippi.”
Gov. Tate Reeves said the project taps “one of our greatest natural assets — our abundant timber resources,” adding that the mill “creates new opportunities for Mississippi timberland owners by providing another market for their timber.”
MDA Executive Director Bill Cork said companies choose Mississippi “because they can build faster and go farther thanks to our exceptional resources, skilled workforce and strong public partnerships.”
Union County Board of Supervisors President C.J. Bright welcomed the company's decision to establish its first mill in the county, saying the county is “committed to helping TLM flourish and prosper as they continue to ramp up production.” New Albany Mayor Jeff Olson said the city “has a well-documented track record of providing a unique ecosystem for diverse manufacturers to establish operations from startup to production and beyond.”