West Virginia’s Greenbrier Valley has its roots in the bountiful forests lining hillsides. Many of our communities sprouted as a result of the timber industry and our region continues to be one of the nation’s biggest producers of hardwoods. Our nearly 1.5 million acres of forest land area create a hardwood inventory of more than 5.7 billion board-feet, and the West Virginia Hardwood Alliance Zone supports primary and secondary wood processors with incentives, site selection, and other programs to meet the industry’s needs. Inter-State Hardwoods, Northwest Hardwoods, Mullican Flooring, Alleghany Wood Products, and The Great Barrel Company are among local employers.
Growing Industry
Our region’s labor shed encompasses more than 282,000 people, many of whom grew up around timber production and processing and developed both easily transferable skills and a generational appreciation for taking pride in a job well done. That labor shed is renewable thanks to the efforts of local education providers focused on developing skills in areas such as forestry and wildlife management, natural resource management, welding, engineering, machining, CDL certification, and more.
Robust Transportation Infrastructure
It’s easy to move processed lumber and wood products everywhere thanks to our transportation network. Interstate 64 connects our region with Interstates 77, 79, and 81 and other U.S. and state highways, as well as Norfolk’s deepwater port and river ports in Charleston and Huntington, speeding shipments of finished products to customers. Rail users benefit from access to both CSX and Norfolk Southern mainlines, with opportunities to add spurs. Greenbrier Valley Airport (KLWB), Charleston Yeager Airport (KCRW), and Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (KROA) offer extensive commercial service and general aviation, and KROA has an onsite cargo facility.
