Governor Glenn Youngkin announced today that Speyside Bourbon Cooperage, Inc. will invest $16.85 million to build a new stave mill in Pittsylvania County’s Brosville Industrial Park, the company’s fourth facility in Virginia. The new stave mill will create 40 new jobs and source 40 percent of its timber needs from Virginia forest landowners. The operation will supply the company’s bourbon barrel cooperage in Smyth County.
“We’re proud to make Virginia the best home for business, and Speyside Bourbon Cooperage is an excellent example of how government can partner with companies to drive economic growth and success for the Commonwealth,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “The fact that Speyside Bourbon Cooperage is choosing Virginia for the fourth time shows that we have the business environment, economic opportunity, talented workforce and natural resources that are key to commercial success and serve as a testament to our top state for business ranking.”
“Forestry is Virginia’s third-largest industry, and Speyside Bourbon Cooperage will continue to get world-class timber for its premium white oak barrels by investing in Virginia-grown forestry products,” said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Lohr. “We’re very pleased to aid Speyside Cooperage in building a new Virginia location with a Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development grant, as this project provides additional markets for forestry landowners and loggers.”
Speyside Bourbon Cooperage, Inc. is a division of Speyside Cooperage Ltd., founded in Scotland in 1947. In 2008, Speyside Cooperage was sold to the Tonnellerie François Frères (TFF) Group, a publicly held company founded in 1910 and headquartered in France. The company operates stave mills and bourbon cooperages in Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Virginia. Virginia locations include stave mills in Bath and Washington Counties and a bourbon barrel cooperage in Smyth County.
“Speyside Bourbon Cooperage, Inc. is very excited to once again announce that we are building yet another site in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Virginia has been home to three of our sites for multiple years now and beyond that, an excellent partner for us and our business,” said Speyside Bourbon Cooperage, Inc. President and General Manager Darren Whitmer. “Having a fourth facility in Virginia and continuing to expand our operations in the Commonwealth means so much to us. We have grown in Virginia beyond our dreams and the partnership that we have with both State and Local Government has been nothing short of remarkable. Virginia has allowed us to grow and meet our goals, we never thought we would have four sites in the state but once we started working here it became clear that Virginia is the perfect partner for us.”
“On behalf of the Board of Supervisors, I want to welcome Speyside Bourbon Cooperage to Pittsylvania County,” said Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors Chairman Darrell Dalton. “We are thrilled that Speyside selected the Brosville Industrial Park to make a $16.85 million investment in its new stave mill. Through this partnership, the County looks forward to a long and prosperous future with Speyside in terms of jobs and market opportunities for our forestland owners and loggers. With its history of age-old craftsmanship and commitment to state-of-the-art techniques, Speyside represents a distinctive addition to the County’s business and industrial community, and we are pleased to be part of its growth and continued success.”
“Speyside will offer diversity when it comes to the types of businesses located in the County, along with bringing new jobs and market opportunities for our landowners. This announcement bodes well for the future of Pittsylvania County as well as for its residents in terms of economic growth. I also want to give kudos to our economic development team, led by Matt Rowe, who assisted in making this announcement possible,” said Tunstall District Supervisor Vic Ingram.
“The manufacture of high-quality oak staves by Speyside Bourbon Cooperage leverages one of Pittsylvania County’s historic economic drivers – forestry and agriculture – and allows us to operationalize our renewable white oak resource at a much higher level. Also, the construction of this facility will complete the development of the Brosville Industrial Park, providing a clear indication that economic growth remains strong in this area,” said Pittsylvania County Industrial Development Authority Chair Dr. Joey Faucette.
“Congratulations to Speyside Bourbon Cooperage on this significant announcement by a company known for production of the highest quality bourbon barrels from the finest of white oak processed in their efficient stave mills,” said Southern Virginia Regional Alliance Executive Director Linda Green. “The decision to make an investment in the Brosville Industrial Park is a testimony to the high-quality wood products in southern Virginia and to the quality workforce in Pittsylvania County.”
“Southside Virginia’s business renaissance continues with the addition of this new stave mill for Speyside Bourbon Cooperage, Inc. Southside has ample opportunities for business growth, and a strong workforce that will help drive success,” said Delegate Eric Phillips. “I appreciate the work of Governor Youngkin, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Pittsylvania County Government, Pittsylvania County Industrial Development Authority, and the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance, to bring this new opportunity to our region.”
“Speyside Bourbon Cooperage’s decision to open their new stave mill in Pittsylvania County, their fourth location in Virginia, shows that the hard work of government to focus on economic growth and workforce development is paying off,” said Senator Tammy Mulchi. “Forestry and agriculture are cornerstones of Virginia’s economy, and business opportunities related to these industries are abundant in southern Virginia.”
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services worked with Pittsylvania County, the Pittsylvania County Industrial Development Authority and the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance to secure this project for the Commonwealth. Governor Youngkin approved a $250,000 grant from the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund, which Pittsylvania County will match with local funds.