Chipman and Doaktown, New Brunswick, Canada 14 March 2014 --  At events today in Chipman and Doaktown, J.D. Irving, Limited (JDI) announced $38 Million in investments to modernize the company’s sawmills in Chipman and Doaktown.

“These mills are vital to local employment and economic activity in rural New Brunswick and we are committed to sustaining and growing them,” said Jim Irving, Co-Chief Executive Officer of J.D. Irving, Limited.  “The Province’s results-based forestry initiative provides the sustainable wood supply to invest and grow jobs.  We appreciate this vote of confidence in the skill and passion of our mill employees and the hundreds of forestry professionals, harvesters, and truckers who work in the woods of rural New Brunswick.”

“New Brunswick’s communities were built by strong partners and J.D. Irving, Limited’s investments at Grand Lake Timber in Chipman and the White Pine Centre of Excellence in Doaktown demonstrates that the future of this region’s forestry sector is as bright as its past,” said Premier David Alward.  “I want to congratulate JDI for the confidence it is placing in the skilled workers and local suppliers who drive success and innovation at these mills.”

“The commitment made by JDI in Doaktown today will help ensure New Brunswick has a strong and competitive industry in many of its operations for years to come,” said Bruce Fitch, Minister of Economic Development.

“This is great news for our community,” said Edward Farris, Mayor of Chipman.  “This significant capital investment in Grand Lake Timber will not only grow short-term construction jobs and long term permanent jobs in the sawmill and woodlands, but it also supports at least 54 businesses in Chipman-Minto alone.”

“From the village of Doaktown operates Atlantic Canada’s largest white pine mill and our largest employer. Renewable forests and a significant investment in a new mill means new jobs for construction workers and the woodlands.  This is great news for the 24 businesses in our village that supply the mill,” said Bev Gaston, Mayor of Doaktown.

CHIPMAN DETAILS

$23 million investment in a new studwood production line, log debarker, mill in-feed, trimmer and log sorting equipment.
• Construction to start Fall 2014
• 16 NEW sawmill jobs
• 96 direct construction jobs
• 49 indirect construction jobs
• 39 NEW woodlands direct jobs (full-time equivalents including seasonal)
• 27 indirect woodlands  jobs

DOAKTOWN DETAILS

$15 million investment in building a new sawmill
Construction will begin Spring 2015
• 78 direct construction jobs
• 40 indirect construction jobs
• 10% increase in lumber yield

Woodlands
• 40 NEW jobs (full-time equivalents including seasonal)
• 28 indirect jobs