RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Turman Hardwood Flooring, Inc., will invest $2.7 million to expand its Galax facility. The company manufactures hardwood flooring and will add a new wood pellet manufacturing operation as part of the expansion, creating 40 jobs. Virginia successfully competed against North Carolina for the project.
“I congratulate the company and locality on a great project,” said Governor Warner. “Turman Hardwood Flooring employs 133 people, and these additional employment opportunities will help ensure that Galax keeps moving forward.”
Turman Hardwood Flooring, Inc., is part of The Turman Group of Virginia, headquartered in Floyd. The Turman Group employs more than 400 people in the Southwest region of Virginia. The Hardwood Flooring operation was founded in 2002 when Turman purchased the former Burriss Lumber Company facility in Galax out of bankruptcy, and began manufacturing prefinished and unfinished hardwood flooring. In addition to expanding the flooring operation, the new wood pellet manufacturing operation will allow Turman to enter a growing market aimed at alternative fuel sources for home heating.
“The Galax facility needs considerably more up-fitting for this project than some of the others we considered,” said company President Mike Turman. “However, the support from the city and the state, and the dedicated workforce in this area, convinced us to keep it here.”
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the City of Galax and Virginia’s aCorridor, representing six counties and two cities in the Mount Rogers region of southwestern Virginia, to secure the project. Governor Warner approved a $50,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist the City of Galax with the project. The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission also approved $50,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds to support the City of Galax. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide training assistance through its Workforce Services Jobs Investment Program.
City officials expressed tremendous support for the project. Galax Mayor C. M. Mitchell said, “We’re not only thrilled about this expansion, but we truly appreciate what Mr. Turman has done to create new investment and jobs throughout the entire region.”