MOULTRIE — Canfor Southern Pine announced today that it will make a $28 million expansion to its Moultrie facility.

Formerly Beadles Lumber Co., Canfor, a Canadian-based firm,  purchased 50 percent of the Beadles operation in Moultrie and Thomasville in 2014 and now owns 100 percent.

Cantor chose Moultrie for its expansion and has already begun installing new equipment.

Beadles Lumber Co. was a longtime business cornerstone of the community, with its stock totally family-held until the Canfor purchase.

Darrell Moore, president of the Colquitt County Economic Development Authority, said the investment will mean 10 new jobs directly at the sawmill and will create another 30 jobs in supporting roles.

As well, Moore said some 60 construction jobs would result from this project.

The Colquitt EDA has assisted Canfor in this endeavor so that it would qualify for the New Market Tax Credit. Moore said to qualify for  the tax credit, Canfor had to stipulate that wages paid would be at least 30 percent higher than average wages for the area.

“It’s going to be greater than that,” said Moore. “We’re talking about wages in the range of $20 per hour.”

“These are good jobs,” said Moore.

“I want to express our thanks and appreciation to Canfor Southern Pine for the confidence expressed in our community by this exciting announcement. Moultrie and Colquitt County are great places to do business, and Canfor’s latest plans are a validation of our community growth and potential,” said Moultrie Mayor Bill Macintosh.

Moore said existing industries are doing well in the community.

Canfor has purchased ajoining land for this expansion in northeast Moultrie.

There is the possibility of a road being closed that presently splits the property.

Also, Colquitt Regional Technical College is cooperating with Canfor for training programs.

The British Columbia-based company earlier added additional facilities to its production portfolio in 2013 with the acquisition of Scotch Gulf Lumber’s three mills in Alabama.

 Canfor is presently the second largest lumber producer in the world and the largest in Canada.

The Canfor project is one of three major expansions announced in the past week. National Beef, located at the former Swift and Company site, will invest some $30 million to grow that operation. This expansion will add 100 jobs.

 The improvements at National Beef will involve installation of new equipment as well as physical additions to the plant.

A regional joint-development authority that owns land near National Beef is working up a long-term lease agreement for four or five acres of that property.

On Friday of last week, Broadleaf Trucking of Moultrie announced an expansion of $2.5 million, adding eight new drivers to its force.

 Broadleaf, a family-owned business, serves states all across the United States.