A lumber manufacturer is expanding its existing sawmill operations in Macon with an $8.3 million investment.
Barge Forest Products, a lumber production company founded in 1985 that serves customers across three continents and the Caribbean, specializes in high-quality southern yellow pine lumber, with a focus on longer timber lengths for construction.
“With 19 million acres of forestland, Mississippi is a powerhouse in the forest products industry,” Gov. Tate Reeves. “For more than 35 years, Barge Forest Products has been part of that success in Macon, and this latest investment positions the company for many more. Mississippi products reach customers around the world, and projects like this strengthen our reputation as a state that produces and delivers quality goods.”
The company is constructing a new facility in Macon to create a new production line featuring optimized edging and twin horizontal resaw capabilities, These upgrades are designed to improve efficiency and increase the Macon sawmill’s annual production capacity.
“We are excited to invest in the future of our operation and community,” Executive Vice President of Operations for Barge Forest Products Jason Ebert said. “With support from the Mississippi Development Authority and the Noxubee County Board of Supervisors, this project will strengthen our competitiveness, improve efficiency and significantly increase log recovery, making better use of our available timber resources while supporting economic growth in the area for years to come.”
As is the case with most major economic development deals in the state, the Mississippi Development Authority is financially assisting the project through the Mississippi Flexible Tax Incentive program. Noxubee County is also chipping in.
Completion of the expansion is expected for October 2027.