Beckwith Lumber awarded $1M USDA Forest Service grant to expand hardwood manufacturing, support forest restoration

PRESS RELEASE

SLATY FORK, W.Va. – Beckwith Lumber Company, Inc. has been awarded $1,030,900 through the USDA Forest Service Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance Program to install a new vertical line resaw system at its hardwood sawmill in Slaty Fork, West Virginia.

The award was announced by the U.S. Forest Service as part of a nationwide investment of more than $105.5 million in grants to support the wood products industry and strengthen markets for material generated through forest restoration projects.

The new equipment will improve lumber recovery, increase mill efficiency, and expand Beckwith Lumber’s ability to process smaller-diameter logs and underutilized hardwood species on the Monongahela National Forest and private lands. The project is expected to create new opportunities in timber markets while supporting restoration activities designed to improve long-term forest health.

“This investment is tremendous news for Beckwith Lumber, our employees, and the forest products industry throughout Pocahontas County,” said Daniel Woods, President of Beckwith Lumber Company, Inc. “This award allows us to leverage our investments to increase production and utilization, while helping to manage the federal forests that surround us. It’s a win-win situation.”

Founded in 1961, Beckwith Lumber has been a cornerstone of Pocahontas County’s economy for more than six decades. The company currently employs 40 workers and supports a network of independent logging contractors, truckers, equipment operators, and forestry professionals throughout the region.

The award comes as Beckwith Lumber continues efforts to modernize its operations following a fire in 2025. The company has invested heavily in rebuilding and upgrading its facility and views the Forest Service grant as an important partnership that will help accelerate those efforts while supporting public forest management objectives.

The Greenbrier Valley EDC assisted Beckwith with the grant application through its Business Retention & Expansion Program.