Homewood’s Resource Fiber plans $3.6M bamboo manufacturing facility in Alabama

On January 11th, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey announced that Homewood-based Resource Fiber is planning to invest $3.6 million in Lamar County to construct their first full-scale bamboo manufacturing facility, bringing 111 jobs to the area.

What is Resource Fiber?

Resource Fiber: Website | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn

If you like sustainable resources, you’ll love Resource Fiber. The Homewood-based Resource Fiber team has a combined 100+ years of experience in growing bamboo & developing bamboo manufacturing technology. Additionally, the company specializes in several bamboo-based products, such as:

• Nail Laminated Timbers
• Rail & Bridge Ties
• Industrial Fiber
• Biocomposite Decking & Materials

So why bamboo? Compared to traditional construction materials like trees, bamboo is a highly renewable plant that is already widely used in hundreds of products. In fact, some species of bamboo can grow up to four feet a day (wow!), much faster than trees. The plant is a sustainable replacement for traditional construction materials. Did you know bamboo can produce up to 20 times more fiber than trees and capture five times as much carbon?

Currently, the majority of bamboo in the States is imported from China. Resource Fiber is aiming to bring new jobs to the States and popularize a new renewable resource at home.

Why Alabama?

In 2020, Resource Fiber analyzed seven buildings in four Alabama communities to find a suitable home for their first full-scale manufacturing facility. After extensive research, the team landed on a building in Sulligent, a small city in Lamar County.

“We are grateful to have found the right facility and are honored to be a part of the Sulligent community. We also want to thank the Northwest Alabama Economic Development Alliance for the support and assistance they provided in our site selection process.”

David Knight, President & CEO, Resource Fiber

Resource Fiber expects to open the facility and begin hiring in the second quarter of 2021. With the addition of 111 new jobs to Sulligent, the project will be a major boon to the city of roughly 2,000 residents.

Excited to see Resource Fiber bring a new facility to Alabama? Tag us @bhamnow to let us know your thoughts!