HILLSVILLE - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that AmerLink, Inc., a manufacturer of log homes, will invest $3 million to open its first Virginia plant in Carroll County. The project will create 200 new jobs. Virginia successfully competed with North Carolina for the project.
“AmerLink will take advantage of two of Southwest Virginia’s great assets: a vital forestry industry and a strong workforce,” said Governor Warner. “They make a great product and the investment in Carroll County is a great endorsement for the region.”
Headquartered just north of Rocky Mount, N.C., AmerLink, America's Log Home Company, has produced quality log home packages since 1982 for customers in both the USA and abroad. The company offers many distinct log styles and allows for personal modifications to even standard plans in order to help customers design a home that is an individual statement. AmerLink uses only the best wood species for its log walls to provide superior insulation and stability and AmerLink's Lifetime Limited Warranty covers customers as long as they live in an AmerLink home.
“Our new sales and manufacturing location on Interstate 77 in Carroll County offers us high visibility, easy access to many of our building markets along the entire I-77 corridor, and a ready supply of economical raw material,” said Richard Spoor, AmerLink's Chairman and CEO. “Those facts, together with what we see as a strong, untapped labor force in Carroll County, and the attractive benefits offered by both the State of Virginia and Carroll County make this location the right choice for us.”
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Carroll County and Virginia’s aCorridor to secure the project for Virginia. Governor Warner approved a $300,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist Carroll County with the project. The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission approved $300,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide training through its Workforce Services Program.
“This is not only great for Carroll County, but it clearly is a big win for the Commonwealth,” said Brian Spencer, Chairman of the Carroll County Board of Supervisors. “These are the first manufacturing jobs created in our county in years, and we hope this is the start of new growth in our economy based on our strengths in the forestry and tourism industries. Every citizen should be excited by the long-term economic impact that AmerLink offers us in deciding to make our county AmerLink’s home.”