(Chatham) — Pittsylvania County leaders have signed off on a performance agreement with a specialty barrel-maker.
Speyside Bourbon Cooperage wants to invest nearly 17 million dollars to build a new stave mill in the Brosville Industrial Park. It will be their fourth facility in Virginia. The new mill will create 40 new jobs and source 40 percent of its timber needs from Virginia forest owners. The mill will supply the company’s bourbon barrel cooperage in Smyth County.
Speyside was founded in Scotland in 1947. They operate stave mills and bourbon cooperages in five states.
The Virginia Department of Agriculture worked with the Pittsylvania County Industrial Development Authority and the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance to secure the project. Governor Youngkin approved a $250,000 grant from the Governor’s Agriculture Fund, which Pittsylvania County will match with local funds.
The county’s IDA Wednesday voted to sell Speyside a 43 acre lot in the Brosville Industrial Park for $350,000. Any grants distributed will be based on Speyside reaching hiring and investment goals.